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The Czech government has prepared measures to tackle sharply rising fuel prices and will announce them after Monday’s cabinet meeting, Industry and Trade Minister Karel Havlíček (ANO) said on Sunday. He did not specify what steps the government would take. Fuel prices have risen amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East and limited refinery capacity. Natural 95 petrol averaged CZK 45.55 per litre on Thursday, while diesel cost CZK 49.13. Several neighbouring countries have already introduced measures to curb prices. Czechia regulated fuel prices earlier this year, including through limits on retailers’ margins and a reduction in diesel excise duty.

The Czech government is expected to send its draft state budget for 2027 to the lower house on Monday. Following coalition negotiations, the proposed deficit is expected to be reduced by around three billion crowns from the original CZK 389 billion proposed by Finance Minister Alena Schillerová (ANO). Despite the reduction, it would still be the second-largest budget deficit since the establishment of the Czech Republic. The coalition has not specified where spending will be cut or revenues increased. Opposition parties and the National Budget Council have criticised the year-on-year rise in the deficit, arguing that it partly finances routine government spending.

Czech President Petr Pavel is leaving for the United States on Sunday to attend the UN General Assembly in New York. He will deliver Czechia’s national address on Wednesday and hold a series of bilateral meetings and attend accompanying events. Pavel will also commemorate the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks, marking their 25th anniversary. Foreign Minister Petr Macinka (Motorists) will also attend the General Assembly and is due to join Pavel for the opening of the general debate on Tuesday. Pavel will later travel to Nebraska to meet state officials, National Guard representatives, university students and Czech expatriates.

The Czech military has completed operational trials of its new Spyder air defence system and is introducing it into service, Defence Minister Jaromír Zůna (SPD) said at NATO Days in Ostrava on Saturday. Czechia has purchased four Spyder batteries from Israel to replace systems dating from the 1970s. Deputy Chief of the General Staff Petr Čepelka said the new system is four to five times more capable and can counter aircraft, helicopters, drones and cruise missiles. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) said the military is also considering purchasing additional, newer-generation Spyder batteries.