News

The Orlen Unipetrol refinery near Litvínov has started work on the gradual restoration of operations following the controlled detonation of an aerial WWII bomb on the factory grounds on Friday.  An inspection of production technologies is now underway. So far, no significant damage has been found that would affect the resumption of operations, company spokesman Pavel Kaidl said. Full resumption of operations will take several days.

The government has said it will release part of the fuel stocks from the state's material reserves so as to cover the production shortfall at the plant, which had to suspend production for over ten days following the  discovery of a WWII air bomb on its premises.

The biggest security threats in the present day are the war in Ukraine, the crisis in the Middle East and instability in Africa, where the big players are jostling for influence and natural resources, the head of Military Intelligence (VZ) Petr Bartovský said in an interview for the CTK news agency. He said that while these conflicts may be seemingly local, they have global implications and are making a significant impact on the security situation in Europe. In the long term, Bartovský warned about the growing threat presented by China which is trying to gain influence over the direction and trade policies of the European Union and the rest of the world. In the area of cyber operations, he said, it significantly outstrips Russia's activities and is increasingly aggressive.

Czech Defense Minister Jana Černochová and her Italian counterpart Guido Crosetto met for one-on-one talks on the sidelines of the Globsec international conference in Prague to discuss security issues and bilateral cooperation in defense. The Czech defense minister stressed the need for NATO to adopt a new strategy towards Russia, which is waging a war against the West through cyberattacks and sponsoring terrorist and arson attacks on NATO territory. The meeting also focused on the purchase of US F-35 fifth-generation aircraft for the Czech military. The purchase of 24 F-35 fighter jets for approximately 150 billion crowns was approved by the Czech government last September. The final assembly of the first 12 aircraft for the Czech Republic is to take place at the Cameri plant in Italy.

“If we want true peace, we must fundamentally rethink the foundation of Europe's security architecture,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a keynote speech at the Globsec security conference in Prague. The EU chief said that while she could not overemphasize the importance of the US' support for Ukraine since the start of the war, she said protecting Europe is first and foremost Europe's duty.

“While NATO must remain the centre of our collective defence, we need a much stronger European pillar,” von der Leyen said, stressing that innovation and competitiveness are not only an essential part of Europe’s future prosperity, but they are also an essential and crucial part of its long-term security. The EC president spoke of the need for a systemic overhaul of Europe's defence, and announced that she would appoint a fully-fledged Defence Commissioner in the next Commission.

Ursula von der Leyen also stressed the importance of continued support for Ukraine, saying that those who argue to stop support for the country do not argue for peace, but for appeasement and the subjugation of Ukraine.

Another keynote speaker at the conference, Czech President Petr Pavel, echoed those sentiments, saying that there is still room for greater effectiveness in helping Ukraine, strengthening anti-Russian sanctions and weakening the ability of Russian industry to support the war.

"We live in an increasingly conflict-ridden world. Yet I still firmly believe that an international order based on rules and cooperation is beneficial not only for the West but for all members of the international community," the Czech president said.

He also stressed the need for Europe to increase its competitiveness, saying that although the Old Continent remains a leader in many areas, it is falling behind the United States, some Asian countries and India in a number of technology sectors. "It is time to recognize that our technological competence and development strongly shapes our geopolitical relevance and the security of our citizens," Mr. Pavel said, praising the creation of the new GeoTech Center, a platform aimed at fostering greater cooperation between governments and businesses in Europe, the US and democratic countries the world over.

The three-day Globsec international conference is hosting around ten prime ministers and presidents, along with twenty defense and foreign ministers from across Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. This year's main theme, "How to Calm the Storm," focuses on security and international relations.