The Czech Competitiveness Council is a platform for debating competitiveness, economic policy and promoting solutions across all sectors, public and private.

Spotlight Issue

Competitiveness: America’s take on the TTIP

02 December 2013

These negotiations are good news: the two sides of the Atlantic both stand to gain from the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. The new agreement can stimulate growth and create employment – developments needed sorely by the United States and Europe alike.

On February 13, 2013, EU Commission President Barroso, European Council President Van Rompuy, and US President Obama jointly announced their intention to launch negotiations toward a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). They said they are “committed to making this relationship an even stronger driver of our prosperity” and that TTIP would “advance trade and investment liberalization and address regulatory and other non-tariff barriers,” thereby “promoting greater growth and supporting more jobs.”

Article by Peter H. Chase, Vice President for Europe of the US Chamber of Commerce to be downloaded here.

News

Good Governance: First private members’ bills proposed in the newly elected Chamber of Deputies

02 December 2013

First Documents of the Chamber (sněmovní tisky) have arrived in the Chamber of Deputies. Among others, several private members’ bills have already occurred. Members of the TOP09 parliamentary party group have proposed a Constitutional Bill on Fiscal Responsibility (zákon o fiskální odpovědnost, also known as finanční ústava). The aim of the Act is to ensure responsible fiscal governance of any public budgets (state, regional and municipal). The Act also stipulates that fiscal governance aims at transparency and efficiency of financial means spent. The deputies intend to create independent mechanism (stipulated by a constitutional Act) that would prevent the current and forthcoming governments diverging from principles of transparent, sparing and efficient fiscal policy. The Act should provide a framework for mechanism under which the Government should inform the Chamber of Deputies in case the debt rate is exceeded (45 per cent proportion of public debt to GDP; in case of 60 per cent proportion to GDP, the Chamber of Deputies must vote on confidence in the Government).

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Competitiveness: Prague named the best city for winter vacation

26 November 2013

CNN issued guide for winter vacation with Prague as a number one in top ten destinations. Snow-capped spires and cobbled, winding streets are among many things for which Prague is considered the ideal place to visit during Christmas. Further, gas street lamps were recently reinstalled throughout the city center, adding a romantic hue to evenings. Traditionally, come December 1st winter and advent markets fill every square in Prague. Hot wines and Christmas sweets in there as well as at many cafes are ideal for escaping the bitter cold. CNN recommends several must visit places, including Lokál Dlouhá with its famous beef tenderloin and cream sauce, The Alchymist Grand Hotel & Spa as an old town hotel with the right winter atmosphere and Estates Theatre, where Mozart conducted the world premiere of "Don Giovanni" in 1787 for a classical theatre plays. Prague this year defeated taught competition of other magical places such as Salzburg, Austria or Reykjavík, Iceland.

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Politics: U.S. Afghan troops might face zero option

30 November 2013

United States might have to dismantle the bulk of its counterterrorism infrastructure in the region and abandon Afghanistan’s security forces completely. A wholesale withdrawal would also shut down the ­foreign-aid pipeline for the Afghan state and sharply limit any enduring U.S. diplomatic presence. Further, dissolution of U.S.-led hubs in the south and east of Afghanistan means that U.S. intelligence personnel and Special Operations forces would not be able to remain within easy striking distance of insurgent groups in the tribal area that straddles the border with Pakistan. Possibility of so called "zero option" has been previously uttered by Afghan president Hamid Karzai during negotiations. Moreover, tensions between Kabul and Washington intensified on Friday following U.S.-led military coalition´s acknowledgment that it had launched airstrikes that killed a child and injured two women in southern Afghanistan.

For more, click here and here.

 

Politics: Ukraine protests over EU deal

02 December 2013

Rallies against President Viktor Yanukovych's refusal to sign an EU association agreement started at beginning of last week in Ukraine. Protests are supported by top opposition leaders. Further, three of them called for resignation of the president.  In Kiev about 10,000 demonstrators took to Independence Square on Friday as Yanukovych attended EU summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. Riot police have forcefully dispersed hundreds of protesters, beating some with truncheons and using tear gas. Moreover, at least 100,000 protesters calling for the Ukrainian government's ouster gathered on Independence Square on Sunday. EU summit reached provisional accords with Georgia and Moldova and EU leaders hoped for change of Yanukovych decision. However, Yanukovych argued that pressure from Russia had led him to make his decision and that Ukraine could not afford to sacrifice trade with Russia, which opposed the deal and wants Ukraine to join its Customs Union. Nevertheless, Yanukovych promised to discuss with German Chancellor Angela Merkel plans to hold trilateral talks among Ukraine, Russia and the European Union on trade and economic cooperation.

For more, click here, here and here.

   

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Policy Pipeline (Monday weekly update)

In Policy Pipeline economic policy developments in the Czech Republic and abroad are monitored to bring better understanding of current topics and trends.

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