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The coalition government of Andrej Babiš (ANO) on Monday approved its economic strategy focusing on education and the labour market, innovation, infrastructure, finance and the business environment, Industry and Trade Minister Karel Havlíček (ANO) announced. He described it as “a roadmap of all key economic steps”.

According to the document, the Czech economy is expected to grow in the coming years primarily on the back of private companies and entrepreneurs.

“The driving force of the economy will be the private sector, and the government’s task is to prepare a predictable environment for it,” the minister said. He added that this requires creating an investment climate in which the state shifts from subsidies toward tax depreciation. Investments, he noted, will only come if energy prices in the Czech Republic remain reasonable.

Further steps will include ensuring energy security in terms of price, diversification and availability of resources. The state will continue to support renewable energy sources, but subsidies will not be as extensive as in the past.

The Motorists’ party has nominated MP Igor Červený as its new candidate for environment minister, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš announced after Monday’s cabinet meeting. He said the proposal had already been submitted to President Petr Pavel and that he hoped the head of state would comply. Babiš further said he appreciated the Motorists’ constructive approach to resolving the situation.

Igor Červený told journalists that he opposes what he described as “mindless green ideology” and spoke out against the closure of coal-fired power plants as well as what he called disproportionately high costs of the green transition. “Let us protect nature and safeguard our industry,” the ministerial nominee said.

The government’s Commissioner for Climate Policy Filip Turek (Motorists) said that he and the new minister would work side-by-side and form a strong team at the Environment Ministry.

Historic locomotives and carriages featured in films such as Dark Blue World will no longer be managed directly by the national rail operator České dráhy, Czech Television reported, citing Czech Railways.

Starting in March, Czech Railways will transfer administration of its historic fleet to the Svět železnice foundation fund. The move is intended to ensure self-sustaining financing of the collection.

The annual costs are expected to run into tens of millions of crowns. Czech Railways will contribute part of the funding, while the foundation plans to secure the majority through public events and private-sector support.

Ministers from the Freedom and Direct Democracy party will vote against a government regulation that would allow Ukrainian refugees to apply for special long-term residency in the Czech Republic this year. Speaking ahead of a coalition council meeting of ANO, SPD and the Motorists, SPD leader and Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Tomio Okamura said the party opposes what it sees as preferential treatment for some foreigners.

“No foreign nationals should have simplified conditions for obtaining long-term residence permits in the Czech Republic compared to others,” Okamura said. “Everyone must meet the standard requirements. There should be no exceptions.”

He added that the coalition is working on tightening residency rules for all foreign nationals in the country. Interior Minister Lubomír Metnar is expected to submit the relevant legislation by May at the latest.