The Economist: Křetínský plays an increasingly prominent role in European business

Czech businessman Daniel Křetínský has been unusually active over the past year and is playing an increasingly important role in European business, the British journal The Economist wrote last week. It noted that exactly a year ago, Křetínský strengthened his position in the German group Metro and acquired Britain’s Royal Mail.

Listing his recent activity, the article included that Křetínský's EP  is set to become the main shareholder in France’s TotalEnergies, and that the group has acquired a 28.5% stake in French electronics retailer Fnac Darty. Křetínský also owns a 50% stake in Czech Media Invest, which controls several French media outlets as well as Czech News Center (CNC), one of the Czech Republic’s largest media groups.

In an interview with The Economist, Křetínský said Europe’s efforts to decarbonise had, in his view, failed and damaged European industry. He warned against high taxes and excessive bureaucracy, which he said were discouraging capital and talent.