Press Advisories
23. 2. 2023
Prime Minister Fiala held talks with the President of the United Arab Emirates and supported Czech companies at IDEX fair
Economic cooperation, strengthening energy security and defence-industrial cooperation. These were the main topics of the meeting between Prime Minister Petr Fiala and the President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Muhammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, held on Thursday 23 February in Abu Dhabi. The Prime Minister also visited IDEX, one of the largest arms fairs, which is attended by nearly thirty companies from the Czech defence industry.
23. 2. 2023
Czechia sends hundreds of heavy military systems worth tens of billions to Ukraine during the first year of Russian invasion
In the first year of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Czechia has delivered dozens of tanks, combat and armoured vehicles and other heavy military systems to Ukraine. Roughly one third of the material came from the Czech Army, the rest was supplied by Czech defence companies. The market price of the training and equipment provided directly to Ukraine by Czechia amounts to roughly CZK 10 billion. Another CZK 30 billion worth of material was sent to Ukraine on the basis of licences issued to Czech manufacturers of military equipment and ammunition. Further CZK 1.5 billion was contributed directly by Czech citizens who organised collections. Thanks to the above, Czechia has received military equipment and financial donations from its allies that roughly correspond in value to the funds spent helping Ukraine.
22. 2. 2023
B9 leaders and President Biden agree to strengthen protection of NATO's eastern flank
On 22 February 2023, Prime Minister Petr Fiala attended a meeting of the Bucharest Nine countries with US President Joe Biden in Warsaw. The leaders agreed to strengthen protection and capabilities to deter the enemy on the Alliance's eastern border. They also reaffirmed their commitment to continue to support Ukraine for as long as necessary. Prime Minister Fiala also met his Polish counterpart Mateusz Morawiecki, with whom he discussed energy security, transport infrastructure, and strategic cooperation between the two countries.
15. 2. 2023
The National Coordinator for the Integration of War Refugees will be Klára Šimáčková Laurenčíková. She wants to strengthen cooperation with regions an
The National Coordinator for the Integration of War Refugees will be Klára Šimáčková Laurenčíková as of 21 February 2023. The Government decided this at its meeting on 15 February 2023. Prime Minister Petr Fiala sees the main task of the coordinator as strengthening cooperation with the regions. Laurenčíková wants to focus, among others, on the protection of vulnerable groups of refugees and to promote synergies between the health, social, education and security sectors.
10. 2. 2023
Prime Minister Fiala attended a special meeting of the European Council in Brussels
On 9 and 10 February, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala attended a special meeting of the European Council in Brussels. The main topics of the meeting of EU leaders were migration, the EU's economic situation, and further support for Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also attended the meeting in person. At the start of the summit, the prime ministers and presidents of the Member States observed a minute's silence in honour of the victims of the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.
24. 1. 2023
Prime Minister Fiala talks energy security and Ukraine with Chancellor Scholz in Berlin
On Tuesday, 24 January, Prime Minister Petr Fiala met with Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin. The leaders discussed further assistance to Ukraine, strengthening energy cooperation and bilateral relations. The Czech Prime Minister also met Friedrich Merz, President of the Christian Democratic Union, at the German Bundestag and attended the Welt Economic Summit conference, where he gave a speech on investment opportunities in the Czech Republic.
9. 1. 2023
Prime Minister Petr Fiala visited the company Excalibur Army; he wrote a short message on one of the tanks that will be sent to Ukraine
On Monday, 9 January, Prime Minister Petr Fiala visited the company Excalibur Army in Šternberk in the Olomouc region. The military equipment manufacturer is involved in an international project to modernise T-72 tanks for Ukraine. The Prime Minister held talks with the company's management and toured the production plant. The Prime Minister also met with the mayors of Šternberk and Uničov, with whom he discussed development projects, high energy prices, and cooperation with employers in the region.
5. 1. 2023
Prime Minister Petr Fiala attended the funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI at the Vatican.
The funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI took place in St Peter's Square at the Vatican on Thursday 5 January. Prime Minister Petr Fiala and his wife attended the last farewell on behalf of the Czech Republic.
3. 1. 2023
Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU ends, government presents achievements
On Tuesday, 3 January 2023, Prime Minister Petr Fiala and Minister for European Affairs Mikuláš Bek addressed a press conference to mark the end of the second Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU, which took place in the second half of 2022. They assessed the implementation of the priorities set by the Czech Republic for its Presidency and highlighted the most significant achievements with a major international and domestic impact. Alice Krutilová, Director of the Czech EU Presidency Department, then presented the organisational, logistical and communication aspects of the Czech Presidency to the public.
