News

Ten EU member states, including the Czech Republic, have called on the EU to reconsider a new carbon emissions charge on transport fuels. They want the measure to be reviewed as part of a separate revision of the EU's Emissions Trading System (ETS). This could, however, complicate plans to reform the EU's main climate policy instrument.

The European Commission is due to present its proposed revision on Friday. The ETS requires power plants, factories, airlines and shipping companies to pay for their carbon dioxide emissions.

"Given the current economic and geopolitical circumstances, European citizens should not be burdened with new climate taxes. The ETS 2 system should therefore be included directly in the review and carefully reassessed," the statement says. The declaration was signed by representatives of Italy, Poland, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia.

The government's proposal to restore the electronic cash register system (EET) once again came under fire from the opposition during its final reading in the Chamber of Deputies today. Finance Minister Alena Schillerová (ANO) defended the reintroduction of the system in a revised form, arguing that it would create a level playing field for businesses. The lower house is expected to approve the return of EET from next year.

According to government estimates, the system would generate an additional CZK 14 billion a year in public revenue. The opposition has criticised the return of EET, arguing that the system is outdated. According to its critics, it no longer reflects the current reality, where most payments are made electronically.

Twelve people were injured in a collision of two Prague Integrated Transport buses near the village of Lidice, west of Prague, on Wednesday morning, the Czech News Agency reported.

According to Central Bohemian emergency services spokeswoman Monika Nováková, one woman suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to Prague's Central Military Hospital. The remaining casualties sustained minor injuries, including injuries to their arms and legs as well as abrasions.

The I/61 road is closed to traffic and police are investigating the circumstances of the accident.

Czech motorway vignette prices are unlikely to rise automatically from next year. The lower house has approved in the first reading a government bill that would abolish annual indexation of vignette prices.

The opposition criticized the move as populist but failed to block the bill or send it back for redrafting. If adopted, drivers will continue to pay CZK 2,570 for an annual vignette, CZK 480 for a monthly pass, CZK 300 for a 10-day pass and CZK 230 for a one-day pass. Discounts for alternatively powered vehicles would remain in place.