The European Commission approved the partnership agreement with the Czech Republic
The European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms Elisa Ferreira together with the Vice-Premier for Digitalisation and Minister for Regional Development Ivan Bartoš, officially announced the approval of the Strategic Partnership Agreement for the use of EU funds: “we have managed to reach a turning point, which will enable us to launch numerous calls for tenders at the beginning of the summer,” said Minister Ivan Bartoš. This agreement initiates the disbursement of European funds planned for the period 2021-2027, corresponding to approximately CZK 550 billion, which will be made available for investments related to regional development, infrastructure construction, innovation, competitiveness, as well as for the ecological transaction in the Czech Republic. Among the new programmes financed by European funds is also OP TAK, dedicated to businesses, which will make available approximately CZK 80 billion, which will support innovation, digitalization, and eco-sustainability in particular. The programme manager, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, expects the first calls to be opened in July.
The Czech Republic is only the sixth member state to have a key document approved by the European Commission; in essence, during the entire programming period, each member state prepares a partnership agreement in cooperation with the European Commission. These are detailed plans in which member states determine how EU funds will be spent during the programming period. It then defines the strategy and investment priorities decided by the Member State concerned and lists the programmes it intends to implement, also indicating the annual financial allocation for each programme.
Commissioner Ferreira and Minister Bartoš discussed the importance of cohesion policy and its future direction together with other representatives of the Czech government and the European Parliament during the conference: “I am delighted to announce the conclusion of the lengthy negotiations on the direction of EU fund support for the Czech Republic. We see cohesion policy as an important investment tool for the development of your country and the transformation of its economy. We have also approved the first Technical Assistance Programme and today I can say that the approval of other programmes will follow in quick succession. I am confident that the European funds will help the Czech Republic to cope with the current challenges of the refugee crisis,” said Commissioner Elisa Ferreira; the Minister for Regional Development Ivan Bartoš added: “I thank the European Commission and all colleagues involved in the negotiation of the Partnership Agreement and the actual programmes for the enormous work they have done. Today we have reached an important milestone that will enable us to open a series of calls for proposals in early summer, so that applicants for funding can submit their projects for evaluation. I am confident that the experience of previous years will be put to good use and that we will be able to support tens of thousands of quality projects throughout the Czech Republic“.
Source: http://www.mmr.cz; https://www.camic.cz/
Source of images: https://pixabay.com/; https://storyset.com/
