Prague – Business associations in the Czech Republic are required to comment on domestic laws, yet they lack the opportunity to provide feedback during negotiations on European legislation, as highlighted by Tomáš Prouza, president of the Confederation of Trade and Tourism of the Czech Republic, at a conference hosted by the Association for International Affairs. The conference addressed the excessive bureaucratic challenges stemming from the adoption of European regulations.
Prouza noted that the reluctance of officials to engage in discussions about national positions stands in stark contrast to practices in most EU countries. “With a few exceptions, Czech politicians show little interest in European matters. When it comes to negotiating European legislation, Czech officials disregard insights and opinions from the business sector, which significantly undermines the negotiating power of Czechia,” he stated. He mentioned that the Chamber of Commerce of the Czech Republic (HK) had identified 441 obligations that could be eliminated, which were submitted to the ministries. “In four years, less than a quarter have been approved, and only after facing fierce resistance from officials,” he remarked.
According to MEP Jan Farský (STAN), “gold plating” occurs when the state imposes additional obligations, restrictions, or bureaucracy beyond what is required by EU regulations. “Gold plating creates issues for entrepreneurs and citizens, and complicates our relationship with the EU, as we often attribute these unnecessary regulations to European mandates,” Farský explained to ČTK. He noted that many EU countries have already implemented measures to limit gold plating, referencing a study from the association.
Prouza believes that the drive for debureaucratization must come from the top, specifically through directives from the prime minister to the ministers, who need the resolve to implement changes and streamline the system with their officials. However, he noted that many ministers have not demonstrated this resolve in the past. Other participants in today’s panel discussion echoed Prouza’s sentiments, asserting that Czech officials prioritize pleasing Brussels over establishing sensible rules that benefit Czech businesses. “For Czech officials, the approval of their colleagues in Brussels holds more weight than creating practical regulations for the benefit of the Czech business community,” Prouza added. (5 December)
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