Documents and Laws in Parliament

Scope: Part One–Part Three; § 2–§ 2a; pages 1–31.

Prior to its entry into force, the bill amends and clarifies the new legal framework for public support of research, development, and innovation. It introduces open access to publicly funded publications and research data, including their deposit in trusted repositories, while simultaneously protecting privacy, intellectual property, and security interests. It regulates the status of research agencies, the transfer of responsibilities to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, budgetary procedures, and the temporary processing of birth numbers. It allows public infrastructure institutions to conduct related research and raises the limit on the transfer of earmarked funds from 5% to 10%; the main changes are set to take effect on January 1, 2027.

Scope: § 112–§ 27; pages 1–12.

Congresswoman Jana Patková questions the transparency of Pavel Straka’s appointment as head of the Czech Environmental Inspectorate, as well as his expertise, political ties, and potential security risks. The minister stated that the first round of the selection process was terminated due to differing interpretations of procedural rules, and that a test was not necessary in the second round due to the smaller number of candidates. He described the selection as lawful and impartial, refused to disclose internal documentation due to legal restrictions, and denied claims regarding the director’s limited presence in Prague, the request for a better car, and the identified security risks.

Scope: Section 112; pages 1–10.

The parliamentary question draws attention to the potential impacts of kaolin mining near Jenišov and Božíčany, particularly dust, water pollution, land subsidence, failure to carry out reclamation, and threats to the health of residents and mineral springs. The representative calls for appropriate regulation, monitoring, and an assessment of the cumulative impacts of mining. The Ministry stated that it has not yet received evidence of the alleged exceptionally high pollution levels or violations of conditions, but it is prepared to review new expert documentation in cooperation with the relevant authorities. According to the Ministry, the direct licensing and oversight of mining operations fall primarily under the jurisdiction of the mining authority, as well as construction, regional, and other administrative bodies.

Scope: Part One–Part Three; § 4–§ 154; pages 1–4.

The bill primarily aligns the Czech Waste Act with the new EU regulation on the transboundary shipment of waste and replaces existing references to the old European legislation with the new one. It introduces electronic filing and service of documents through a central system, regulates the Ministry’s decision-making process, clarifies the rules for the take-back and safe storage of waste, and newly establishes a regime for facilities requiring prior authorization; At the same time, the conditions regarding the applicant’s good standing are being amended so that the applicant must not have a single fine of a high amount, and the total amount of fines must not exceed a specified limit. The provisions governing administrative offenses and penalties related to cross-border waste shipments are being significantly revised to make enforcement more effective against illegal shipments. In addition, the obligation for regions to prepare waste management plans is being repealed, and an administrative fee of 10,000 CZK is being introduced for applications to issue or amend prior consent.

Scope: Section 112; pages 1–8.

This concerns a written parliamentary question and the minister’s response regarding the Czech Republic’s position on the revision of EU food labeling rules under the CMO, particularly with regard to plant-based alternatives, flavorings, and novel foods. The MP points out ambiguities following the EU compromise, which retained general terms such as “burger” or “sausage” but reserved certain names exclusively for animal products. The minister states that the Czech Republic supports the protection of the term “meat” and related animal-based designations, while, according to him, the rules for flavors and aromas remain unchanged, and the general requirements that labeling not be misleading continue to apply. Regarding novel foods, the ministry notes that the text of the revision has already been finalized and no further changes are possible.

Scope: Part One–Part Four; § 1–§ 14; pages 1–20.

The bill primarily reorganizes the surveying and cadastral inspectorates: they will no longer be separate organizational units of the state or accounting entities, but rather internal units of the Czech Office for Surveying and Cadastre, while retaining their administrative authority. At the same time, the Act expands and clarifies the powers of the Office and the inspectorates, particularly with regard to oversight, the administration of digital information systems, and the adjudication of cadastral violations. The territorial jurisdiction of the inspectorates is also changing, as the Vysočina Region is transferring from Brno to České Budějovice, and the names and annexes of the Act are being amended. The Act takes effect primarily on January 1, 2027, with certain amendments related to cadastral offenses taking effect on July 1, 2027.

Scope: § 112–§ 3; pages 1–14.

The document contains a written parliamentary question from a member of parliament regarding the impacts of kaolin mining in the Karlovy Vary region and the response from the Minister of the Environment. The interpellation highlights potential damage to the air, water, landscape, public health, and property, and requests clarification regarding the EIA, reclamation efforts, inspections, and potential sanctions. The minister states that official data do not yet confirm any significant exceedances of dust limits or specific failures, and that many of the issues fall under the jurisdiction of mining, construction, or other authorities. The Ministry declares its readiness to support monitoring and address the matter within the scope of its authority, but it cannot order an immediate halt to mining on its own.

Scope: Section 112; pages 1–6.

This is a written interpellation regarding the impact of the amendment to the VAT Act on the financing of public transportation. The member of parliament points out that, starting in 2028, compensation paid to transportation providers will be newly classified as a transaction subject to VAT, which, in his view, could significantly increase the cost of operating public transportation for regions and cities and lead to reduced service or higher fares. He therefore inquires about possible legislative solutions, potential financial compensation from the state, and the impacts on other public services. The Minister of Finance states that the problem stems from an earlier amendment; the ministry is currently analyzing it and will decide on the next steps after assessing the budgetary impacts.

Scope: Part One–Part Four; § 19a–§ 86a; pages 1–26.

The bill amends the pension insurance rules primarily to benefit older individuals and working retirees. It introduces an age-based pension increase starting at age 80 and every five years thereafter, instead of the current increase starting only at age 85; at the same time, starting in 2028, the increase in the old-age pension for additional gainful employment will be reinstated and automated. The law also explicitly allows pensions to be paid abroad in a currency other than the Czech koruna and stipulates that the recipient bears the costs of currency conversion. At the same time, it requires employers to resubmit data on working old-age pensioners so that these increases can be applied automatically.

Scope: Part One–Part Four; § 1–§ 54; pages 1–16.

The bill transposes the Czech regulations on construction products into the new EU regime in accordance with EU Regulation 2024/3110. It repeals older transitional provisions in the Act on Technical Requirements for Products and transfers the rules for CE-marked construction products to the Act on Conformity Assessment, where it specifies the competent authorities, the Czech language for documents, and the information system. It temporarily maintains the validity of existing authorizations and notifications only until January 8, 2030, unless they are renewed. The Act also extends oversight and the scope of responsible entities to online sales and services involving the complete fulfillment of orders; most of the changes are to take effect shortly after promulgation, while some repeals will not take effect until January 8, 2040.

Scope: pages 1–30.

The document requests Parliament’s approval for the ratification of the UNESCO Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education. The Convention aims to harmonize and make the recognition of foreign higher education qualifications more transparent, promote academic mobility, and improve the exchange of information about higher education institutions and study programs. It does not impose any fundamentally new obligations on the Czech Republic, as it builds on existing European rules, and according to the explanatory memorandum, it is not expected to have any further legislative or budgetary implications. It also explicitly addresses the fair assessment of the qualifications of refugees and displaced persons, even if they do not have complete documentation.

Scope: Sections 1–12; pages 1–24.

The document requests the Chamber of Deputies to approve the ratification of a new extradition treaty between the Czech Republic and Canada. The treaty is intended to replace the outdated provisions from 1924 and 1926 and to expedite and streamline the transfer of persons for criminal prosecution or the enforcement of sentences. It sets forth the conditions for extradition, the grounds for mandatory and discretionary refusal, rules for pretrial detention, the transfer of property, transit, and protection against the death penalty without safeguards. Its main impact is to facilitate more effective international judicial cooperation in criminal matters without placing additional strain on the national budget.