According to Babiš, the government sent a crucial letter to EU politicians, addressing the future of industry
Prague – On Tuesday, the government finalized and sent a letter addressed to the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Council António Costa, and the prime ministers and presidents of the EU member states. It is a key document and the Czech Republic’s position for the extraordinary European Council summit, which will take place on 12 February. The letter deals with the future of European industry, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) said today in the Chamber of Deputies. Deputy Prime Minister Karel Havlíček (ANO) told ČTK that the letter concerns, for example, emission allowances and competitiveness.
Babiš did not want to describe the letter’s content in more detail when asked by ČTK, but assured that it would be published soon. “It is a key document and the position of the Czech Republic for the extraordinary European Council summit in February. And the letter fundamentally addresses the future of European industry and the impacts of Fit for 55 and these matters,” he added.
“We are preparing a fundamental position for our prime minister, especially on emission allowances. But it is not only about emission allowances, it is generally about competitiveness. The letter is quite sharp and is to a large extent based on a critical view, for example, of the Antwerp Declaration, but everything will be in that letter,” Havlíček told ČTK. According to him, the Ministry of Industry contributed to the drafting of the letter to a large extent, and partly also the Ministry of the Environment and Babiš’s team.
The Antwerp Declaration on an Industrial Deal from February 2024 arose from a meeting of more than 70 chief executives of major industrial groups and representatives of associations, especially from the chemical industry and other energy-intensive industrial sectors from the EU, as described by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The declaration calls for the creation of a European Industrial Deal, which will complement the Green Deal and focus on supporting industry in the EU, which is intended to lead to strengthened competitiveness.
Babiš’s government, in its policy statement, calls, among other things, for a revision of the Green Deal. Already in mid-December, immediately after its appointment, it rejected the ETS 2 emission allowance system, which is to apply to carbon dioxide emissions from fuel combustion in buildings and road transport. At that time, the cabinet also instructed the ministers of the environment and of industry and trade to seek support in the EU for abolishing the system. (28 January)
