Press Conferences

3. 9. 200811:53

Press Conference after the Meeting of the Government, Held on Wednesday 3rd September 2008

Jakub Stadler, Press Unit of the Office of the Government: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen after the meeting of the government. I welcome the 1st Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for Regional Development, Mr. Jiří Čunek, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Environment, Mr. Martin Bursík, and last but not least the Minister of Transport, Aleš Řebíček. I ask the Deputy Prime Minister Čunek for his introductory speech.

Jiří Čunek, 1st Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Regional Development: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. The government debated half of time without the Prime Minister who left, together with the President, to honour the memory of Edvard Beneš. As the first item the regular information on European affairs was debated. The prime Minister informed the government above all of the session of the Council of Ministers which had been held on Monday. I think you got the information on Monday or on Tuesday and therefore I will not speak about it any longer. The second item was item because of we can see the Deputy Prime Minister Bursík and Mr. Minister Řebíček here. It concerned the issue of track transport, about which they would be speaking. Then the point no. 4 was debated on evaluation of the impact of transport on environment. This point was suspended and it would be submitted to the government next week. Then the Bill amending the Act on Road Traffic and Criminal Code was debated. It concerned matters related to municipal police and their right to measure the speed of cars. There were certain further small amendments there, which were presented by the Minister of Interior. The government approved this bill. Furthermore, the bill amending the Act on Armoured Forces of the Czech Republic was discussed. The bill was suspended by about two weeks. The Minister was assigned with a task of the government to submit a different bill which would regulate this sphere. Further point, which was debated by the government, was the Bill amending the Act on Imprisonment as amended. Also this bill was suspended after a long discussion. The Minister will submit that bill on some of the following meetings of the government. I think it will be on the next meeting of the government. It concerns the fact that the Minister wants to have greater representation in those commissions which are advisory bodies of directors of the individual prisons. Nowadays directors choose the team independently. Members of such teams may be people who are close to a director. Mr. Minister is of the opinion, and the government inclines to this opinion as well, that members of those teams should be independent experts, politicians and such like. Nevertheless, the agreement was not reached concerning the fact whether the Minister can push through this idea without amendment to the Act or not. This legislative problem will be solved by the next week. Further point concerned matters related to the Supreme Audit Office (NKÚ), in particular the construction of the Palace of Justice in Brno, where expenditures were increased by one billion crown or even more. As far as this audit conclusion is concerned, the President of the NKÚ presented extensive standpoint to this issue and also the Minister of Justice Pospíšil presented his standpoint. Finally, the government suspended this issue by two weeks and then the issue would be submitted again. Furthermore, items no. 6 and no. 7 were approved. The Supreme Audit Office's audit conclusion on management of budgetary means allocated to the Prison Service and the standpoint of the Ministry of Education to the audit conclusion on financial means provided for public art collages. These points were approved. Further material concerned the National Strategy of Prevention of Violence to Children. After a long discussion, appendices to this material were removed, which specified in too detailed manner what the violence to children is and what is not. There was also stated that a facer of a parent is violence to children. Those appendices were removed and the material was approved. The last point which was approved by the government was the proposal for awarding state medals of the Czech Republic, the medal of the White Lion and the Medal for Bravery. Following the agreement with the Prime Minister, I informed that I would take part in the funeral of Mr. Tomáš Baťa in Toronto. That is all as far as the meeting of the government is concerned. I give the floor to Mr. Minister Řebíček.

Aleš Řebíček, Minister of Transport: Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, following the agreement with the Prime Minister I submitted to the government information on fulfilment of the Programme Declaration of the Government concerning restrictions of the truck transport. The proposal is a common proposal of the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Environment. The basic idea consists in extension of the ban of transport to Friday from 15 to 18 o'clock. It will concerns vehicles over 7,5 tons. Based on this information the government assigned me with a task to work out the respective bill and to negotiate on the matter with the Union of Transport or with the ČESMAD (the association of truck carriers). That was the introductory information.

Jakub Stadler, Press Unit of the Office of the Government: Thank you and now Mr. Minister Bursík has the floor.

Martin Bursík, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Environment: Thank you. I would like to say on this issue that the process lasted15 months and that is why I value this decision of the government so much. From my point of view, it means fulfilment of further of crucial points of the Programme Declaration of the Government. The important thing is that this ban will bring more fluent transport during weekends, reduction of noise and also decrease in number of traffic accidents, including those fatal ones. I think It would be fair to say that the decision of the government is based on series of studies which were commissioned mainly by the Ministry of Transport and also by the Ministry of Environment. I would like to mention several key arguments for the decision of the government to restrict truck transport during weekends, on Fridays from 15 to 18 o'clock and on Sundays from midnight to 22 o'clock. The important fact is that the highest intensity is on working days between 14:00 and 18:00 and on Fridays it is even by 15% higher that on other working days. It is logical that the number of traffic accidents is by 20% higher during this period and as far as fatal accidents are concerned, it is even by 45% higher that on other working days. The key factor of this trend of accident rate is that there is concurrence of peak hours common on working days and peak hours of a mass departure of the public for weekends. Therefore the government decided to reduce the afternoon peak hours through restriction of transport of such vehicles – trucks with total weight over 7,5 tons. The second parameter which was taken into consideration was harmonization with neighbour countries. The important thing is that as to the harmonization, we reached absolute harmonization, because in neighbour countries, in Germany, Austria and Slovakia, there is already restriction introduced between Sunday's midnight and 22:00. In other words there will be no queues of truck on frontiers. It is important that we harmonized this restriction with the working regime of drivers. The truck drivers´ regime is based on the fact that during thirteen-hour working time a driver is allowed to drive only for 9 hours. If we deduct obligatory forty-five-minute working intervals, then just those three hours remain for a restriction on working days. That is why we decided to restrict the Friday's transport for three hours. Further problem was whether to restrict the truck transport only on motorways and roads of the first class or to restrict it on all roads. In this case we decided to restrict the transport in the same way as it is common in overwhelming majority of European countries and in neighbour countries, as there was threat of so called by-pass, it means that truck drivers would choose roads of lower classes and it would result in enormous burden for towns and villages. As to the parking areas, the government had an analysis at its disposal which showed that there were 1233 parking areas and that it would be possible to extend this number up to 2605 without necessity of extensive construction works, just through certain adaptation of horizontal traffic signs and putting old and closed parking areas into operation. That was the most essential information that I wanted to say, so that it would be apparent that the decision of the government, which was made after 15 months and was very complicated, was based on concrete argumentation. It was a pointy-headed decision which was based on detailed analyses of the situation in the Czech Republic. Thank you.

Jakub Stadler, Press Unit of the Office of the Government: I thank the Minister Bursík. Now, ladies and gentlemen, there is time for your questions. Mladá fronta daily, please.

Mladá Fronta Dnes daily: I have a question which concerns those trucks. Did the government deal with making the process of exception granting stricter? And the second question – do you intend to introduce some toll price reduction for trucks?

Aleš Řebíček, Minister of Transport: I will answer it if the Deputy Prime Minister allows. There are two options here. One of them is that the system of exception granting will be incorporated in the law. The second one concerns adaptation of powers of municipalities, because the restriction is nationwide. It will be a part of an agreement which we will have to reach within the government and I will submit the respective proposal. As you have noticed, I will submit one more material to the government and it will deal with this issue. As to toll price reduction, we have a proposal prepared. I will submit it at the meeting of economic ministers, as it is a standard procedure, because it will have impacts on the state budget. After the approval, I will submit it to the government. We expect introduction of discount of quantity.

Jakub Stadler, Press Unit of the Office of the Government: Thank you, further question. The Czech News Agency.

Czech News Agency: I have several questions. Why was the Bill amending the Act on Armed Forces suspended by two months? Mr. Deputy Prime Minister Čunek, you are said to have submitted to the government a material of Mrs. Minister Stehlíková which concerned Romany ghetoes; could you say something about it? The third question does not directly concern the meeting of the government; nevertheless, members of trade unions of the public sector would like to meet ministers to discuss their requirements before taking further steps. Is the date of such a meeting already scheduled? Thank you.

Jiří Čunek, 1st Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Regional Development: Well, the suspension of the Bill amending the Act on Armed Forces was adopted because we wanted to extend the mandate of the Minister of Defence which she had in relation to non-armed forces. Principally, we want the minister to command all active soldiers, including the Castle Guard and so on. These are matters which will have to be adapted in legislation, because the Castle Guard, for example, has rather different position at present, in spite of the fact that it is included in the budgetary heading of the Minister of Defence, and from this heading are paid salaries of the Castle Guard. These were the principal reasons why we wanted to include all units under a single command which would bear responsibility. Therefore the preparation of such a law would require more time. As to the concept concerning socially excluded persons, I did not handed it over to Mrs. Minister Stehlíková at the meeting of the government, I will hand it over to her in a few minutes. We agreed that I would hand it over to her not directly at the meeting of the government, but after it; nevertheless, she would get it. The concept is prepared, I agreed with Mrs. Minster on this proposal which is worked out in such a way, so that the other ministers, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, etc, could incorporate into it their proposals which are already prepared, and which we regard as purposeful. Mrs. Minister will make some comments or add some other matters; I suppose we will cooperate on the concept so that we could submit it to the government.

Czech News Agency: And how about those trade union members who want to meet members of the government? Thank you.

Jiří Čunek, 1st Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Regional Development: Could you repeat the question?

Czech News Agency: I apologize, members of trade unions of the public sector, who ask for wage increase wanted to meet some of members of the government before taking some steps. Is the government prepared for such a meeting? When could it be arranged?

Jiří Čunek, 1st Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Regional Development: The government did not debate this issue, as it had not been submitted to the government. There are certain standard procedures by means of which the government regularly communicates; I mean the tripartite. In case of a different negotiation, the individual minister would be addressed; they have not been addressed for the present. I do not know anything about it.

Jakub Stadler, Press Unit of the Office of the Government: Thank you, further question, please.

Czech News Agency: Mr. Deputy Prime Minister, you mentioned you debate on decoration conferred by the state. Could you say what do the proposals concern? Thank you.

Jiří Čunek, 1st Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Regional Development: It is the proposal to the President for decoration on the occasion of the national holiday on 28th October. It concerns the Medal of the White Lion of the 4th class and there are the individual persons listed here. I do not know whether you would like me to read the names. The material is at your disposal. Well, all right – the Medal of the White Lion of the 4th class to the brigadier Ondřej Páleník, medals for Bravery to lieutenant Tomáš Krampl, lieutenant Petr Sekel, chief warrant officer Radim Košul, officer cadet Petr Králík, and officer cadet Zdeněk Lhota. This is a proposal approved by the government today.

Jakub Stadler, Press Unit of the Office of the Government: Thank you, further question, please.

Mladá Fronta Dnes daily: Good afternoon, I would like to ask a question concerning the restriction of truck transport, because it was said here that a negotiation with the ČESMAD (the association of truck carriers) would be held. What are the expectations regarding the proposal presented today? Will it be passed to the Parliament in the presented version even after that negotiation? That was the first question. The second one is to Minister Bursík. Do you have a guaranty of the ODS regarding their support in the Parliament, so that it would not be just, let us say, a political proclamation of the government before oncoming congress of the Green Party? Thank you.

Martin Bursík, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Environment: As to the first part of your question, the government took cognizance of the material – the information of the Minister of Transport in which there are reasons and arguments for restriction of the truck transport specified. The government assigned the Minister of Transport with a task to submit the amendment to the law in compliance with the information submitted to the government. In the information there is explicitly stated that the restriction of truck transport over 7,5 tons will be on Fridays from 15 to 18 o'clock and on Sundays from midnight to 22 o'clock all the year round and on all roads. The debate at the meeting of the government was based on these facts. It means that the mandate of the Prime Minister for negotiation with partners is defined by those conclusions adopted by the government. There is no possibility there for any corrections of those time limits; nevertheless, there are certainly further topics which the Prime Minister can discuss with representatives of truck carriers. As to your second question, that reminds me a response of a colleague of my party before the oncoming party congress. With regard to those doubts I can say that we have been working hard on this issue for 15 months and everybody who has been monitoring this topic knows that it is not a topic which we started to discuss with the Minister of Transport some week or month ago. There had been several variants submitted, we were holding negotiations with partners. The Prime Minister took part in those negotiations as well. It means that any fears of expedience are more than vain. It is one purpose here – to fulfil an important item of the Programme Declaration, to make a positive step and to make travelling on our road on weekends more comfortable because this time period is absolutely critical and the highest number of traffic accidents comes up, including fatal ones. It is also great burden for drivers and that is why we made that decision.

Jakub Stadler, Press Unit of the Office of the Government: Thank you. Are there any further question? The TV Prima.

TV Prima: Good afternoon, I would like to ask a question. What will be those negotiations with the ČESMAD about if there is no space for time correction? What will be compensations like in case of disapproval of ČESMAD to the proposal of the government? Then, I would like to ask whether you could describe, Mr. Deputy Prime Minister Čunek, what the situation will be like concerning measuring the speed of cars by the Municipal Police as the proposal was approved. Thank you.

Martin Bursík, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Environment: If I may, I will start by saying just a single sentence. I think that the decision of the government which took the regime of drivers and the logistics of truck carriers into consideration, and which restricted the Friday's transport in the afternoon only for three hours, I think it is now up to truck carriers to consider their criticism as the government acted absolutely rationally, the decision was based on experts´ opinions and we do not think that one-hour or two-hour restriction would bring any effect. As to further negotiations and their topics, it will be out of my scope of activities and these negotiations will be led by the Minister of Transport who is better expert in this sphere than I am.

Aleš Řebíček, Minister of Transport: At the last meeting with truck carriers we were discussing issue connected with oil prices, we also debated certain consumption tax relieves and the negotiation resulted also in the introduction of discount of quantity. I am of the opinion that there are lots of issues to be still discussed, as we are informed of the critical economic situation of most of truck carriers. Therefore we have such a mandate. I should say that I will submit the material once more. It is an amendment which will be debated in the Parliament, and it means that we will need to win majority of voices.

Jiří Čunek, 1st Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Regional Development: As to the restriction of the right of the Municipal Police to measure speed of cars, this proposal was removed. The Minister of Interior included in the amendment a provision that there would be an agreement with the state Police regarding spots of measurement. It does not concern an administrative agreement. The problem is to avoid situation when both units measure on the same stage of a road. The proposal concerns reversion of powers to the Municipal Police which had been restricted in the last amendment.

Jakub Stadler, Press Unit of the Office of the Government: Thank you, the TV Nova.

TV Nova: I would like to ask till when you have to prepare the law. And the second question concerns the motorway D3. Some information leaked that it should be finished, but only its certain part; that the part from Prague is not to be finished and the part leading to frontiers is not be finished as well. Is it true? Why to construct just a part of the motorway?

Aleš Řebíček, Minister of Transport: The ideal, the most optimistic time schedule is to finish it by the end of the year, including the debate in the Senate, provided no principal problem occurs during the inter-ministerial approval procedure. Those works have already been started; I have 30 days to prepare it and to submit it to the government again. As to the motorway D3, I do not know anything about problems; could you be more specific? The time schedule is not delayed because of financial reasons. It also concerns PPP projects which I will submit to the next or to the next but one meeting of the government. The inter-ministerial procedure has already been finished and there are no problems there. Comments were included in the proposal. I do not know anything about problems.

Jakub Stadler, Press Unit of the Office of the Government: Than you. Is there any further question? The Czech News Agency and then Mladá fronta.

Czech News Agency: Excuse me for bothering you with those medals. We know who Mr. Páleník is. I suppose you proposed those five soldiers because of their bravery during missions abroad or for what will they be awarded? Thank you.

Jiří Čunek, 1st Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Regional Development: Yes, there are profiles of the individual soldiers here. I will read them in such order as they had been mentioned. Tomáš Krampl – his vehicle was hit by a missile from the RPG (rocket-propelled grenade). He was on a reconnaissance mission and was seriously injured by grenade fragments. Despite his injuries he continued firing against the enemy, he commanded members of the unit in the course of its regrouping and started counterattack against the enemy's positions. By his fast and decisive action, he avoided casualties and contributed to the crushing defeat of the enemy. Shall I read all of them?

Czech News Agency: Are all of them from foreign missions?

Jiří Čunek, 1st Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Regional Development: Yes, it is always connected with some attack, with certain war operation. For example when I looking at Pert Králík, there was an attack against their guard and he rescued two seriously injured soldiers of the British Army. Zdeněk Lhota played an important role in rescuing of lives of the crew of the hit vehicle risking his own life.

Czech News Agency: Everything concerns Afghanistan, if I am not mistaken.

Jiří Čunek, 1st Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Regional Development: I suppose so if I remember well the individual stories.

Jakub Stadler, Press Unit of the Office of the Government: Thank you, Mladá fronta.

Mladá Fronta Dnes daily:I will ask you to add information on those trucks, on those exceptions. You said it would be a subject matter of a negotiation. Do you consider making those exceptions stricter or more extended? There were permitted several thousand of them every year. And regarding those toll price relieves - 13% were expected. Will it be less or more?

Aleš Řebíček, Minister of Transport: At present there are six or eight types of exceptions named in the law. The rest is solved by Regional authorities or municipalities in case of roads that they administer. There are two possibilities here. Either to use this way – to state explicitly all exceptions in the law, there are 2500 of them, or to preserve that possibility for regions and municipalities and to negotiate this with regions and municipalities in the course of the inter-ministerial proceedings. As to those 13%, it is the correct information. I do not know whether it will be exactly 13% as we have certain range given by the European Commission. But it also enables us to increase the toll, if it is necessary. The discount would be used in particular by domestic carriers.

Martin Bursík, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Environment: This explanation has connection with the time schedule of the consideration of the bill. Part of the information which was noted by the government is also the time schedule, which is the optimistic time schedule, as the Minister of Transport said. In case there no delay occurs, in case of smooth procedure and approval of the government in early October, the government will propose to the Chamber of Deputies, or rather to its Chairman to consider the bill according to the Article 91 of the Rules of Order of the Chamber of Deputies, it means in the first reading. In such a case it would be possible for the law to come into effect and to be issued in the Collection of Laws by the end of the year. There is certain time reserve for the debate during the inter-ministerial proceedings, as the Minister mentioned. But it is important to point out that it does not concern those time restrictions of the trucks transport. In this case, there is an agreement of members of the government reached. The discussion will be held on effective solution of exceptions so that we would avoid a situation when exceptions are not permitted centrally. It is a competence of regional authorities and it is important to coordinate permitting exceptions so that it would bring the effect which is expected by the government.

Jakub Stadler, Press Unit of the Office of the Government: In case you have no questions, thank you, ladies and gentlemen. I thank also ministers and at 14 o'clock an agreement on ensuring the car flotilla during our presidency will be signed, if you are interested. Thank you. Good-bye.