Cohesiebeleid: Commissie keurt plannen en prioriteiten Tsjechië goed (en)

The Czech Republic has reached agreement with Regional policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner and Employment and social affairs Commissioner Vladimír Spidla on its national plan and priorities for Cohesion Policy 2007-2013. In their National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF), the Czech authorities describe how they plan to invest € 26.3 billion over seven years in line with the Lisbon Strategy for growth and Jobs.

Danuta Hübner said: " I am very glad that the Czech Republic has joined the Member States that have had their frameworks approved. I welcome the commitment of the authorities to the Lisbon Strategy for growth and jobs. I am convinced this European investment will help to raise the standard of living for all Czech citizens in the near future. "

Commissioner Spidla added: " The Czech strategy shows a strong commitment to promoting better investment in human resources, and this will yield more jobs, better jobs. This aim lies at the heart of the European reform agenda. The Czech Republic has chosen priorities that will boost employment and enable the workforce to adapt to changing circumstances."

The Czech NSRF sets out in broad terms how the Czech authorities will invest €26.3 billion of EU resources over the next seven years to deliver growth and jobs.

Cohesion policy is intended to reduce disparities among regions undergoing rapid development (such as Prague under the "competitiveness objective") and regions lagging behind (Central-Moravia, Moravia-Silesia and the North West), covered by the "Convergence" Objective.

The government has identified the following priorities for 2007-2013:

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  Boosting competitiveness: reinforcing the business sector by improving its productivity and speeding up sustainable economic growth. Increasing the relatively low share of expenditure on research and development (R&D), 1.42 % of GDP in 2005, is a priority, as is combating any "brain drain". Promoting tourism in the regions, which can help to create new jobs, is also high on the agenda.
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  Developing an open, flexible, cohesive society: support for developing a diverse, socially aware and cohesive society, open to new opportunities. The aim is to create a modern educational system that will become the driving force behind an efficient, flexible labour market. The authorities also plan to cut red tape for businessmen by at least 20%.
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  Improving the environment: the authorities will work on improving the quality of the environment and access to transport networks, and on raising the proportion of railway transport, as well as developing combined transport.
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  Balanced development: support for economic growth and employment tailored to local potential and varying local conditions (natural, economic, social and cultural). In rural areas, the authorities will promote new economic activities.

The Czech Republic intends to shape its broad priorities as set out in the framework through 17 operational programmes (seven regional, eight sectoral, and two for the Prague region).

Notes for editors

The Czech Republic sent its National Strategic Reference Framework to the Commission in March 2007.

Each Member State prepares a National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF), coherent with the Community Strategic Guidelines for 2007-2013, in the course of an ongoing dialogue with the Commission. That document defines the strategy chosen by the State and proposes a list of Operational Programmes (OPs) that it plans to implement. As of today, 20 Member States have had their NSRFs officially validated by the Commission.

The Lisbon Agenda is an action and development plan of reforms set at the Lisbon European Council in March 2000. The reforms are intended to implement the EU's strategic goal of becoming the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world, capable of sustainable economic growth, with more, better jobs and greater social cohesion. Progress is regularly reviewed at Spring European Councils.

The Czech NSRF is available at:

http://www.strukturalni-fondy.cz/regionalni-politika/nsrr

More about Cohesion Policy in the Czech Republic (2004 prices):

http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/atlas2007/fiche/cz_en.pdf

Further information about European Regional Policy:

http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/index_en.htm

Further information about European Employment, Social affairs and Equal opportunities Policies is available at:

http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/index_en.html