According to the rapporteur of the proposal, Czech MEP Alexander Vondra in the ENVI Committee, the plenary session of the European Parliament adopted a position on the EURO 7 standard proposal in a more acceptable form. Next, trialogues and negotiations between the positions of the Council and the EP will be launched that shall lead to the final wording of the Regulation. A total of 329 out of 600 voters were in favour.
The Ministry of Transport of the Czech Republic and Czech Railways signed a ten-year contract for the provision of public passenger transport services by public rail transport on the Ex 32 line Prague – Pardubice – Lichkov state border (– Poland) for the period of the 2025-2034 timetable. This agreement represents a significant step towards strengthening interstate connections and will enable the Czech capital Prague and East Bohemia to connect with the Polish cities of Wrocław, Poznan, Bydgoszcz, Gdansk and Gdynia.
Almost 600 driving school teachers, examiners and representatives of the professional public attended the Future of Drivers' Education conference in Prague today. The professional public learnt new rules that will be in force from 1 January 2024 at this biggest event dedicated to driver education since 1989. These rules involve options for beginning drivers such as trial driving licence or the mentor-led driving scheme from the age of 17 (L17). Minister Martin Kupka also presented awards to important personalities for their long-standing contribution to Czech driver education.
The Environment Council meeting in Luxembourg adopted the Council's general approach to the regulation on new CO2 emission limits for trucks and buses on 16 October. The Czech Republic has contributed to a significant mitigation of the impact of this forthcoming regulation. The most significant change is the exemption of all long-distance and suburban buses from the requirements for full zero-emission operation and the delay of the commitment to full zero-emission urban buses by five years to 2035. The proposal, approved, also foresees a review of the objectives and the whole regulation in 2027.
Transport Minister Martin Kupka and German Federal Minister for Digital Affairs and Transport Volker Wissing signed today a joint declaration on future development plans for the rail connection between the Czech Republic and Germany. Both ministries want to concentrate on building a high-speed connection on the Prague – Dresden – Berlin axis, on the modernisation and electrification of the Prague – Pilsen – Domažlice – Nuremberg/Munich line and on improving the parameters of the Nuremberg – Marktredwitz – Cheb – Prague connection. The ministers also want to proceed in a coordinated manner at the EU level in the negotiations on obtaining funding for railway infrastructure.
Faster check-in, better service, customised parking or new direct connections. Prague Airport can finally present its development plans for the next years after the pandemic crisis. Passengers can look forward to a more comfortable travel experience even on the way to the airport. More than 90 percent of the Czech population supports the new plans. The airport development will bring 200 direct connections, 37 long-haul routes and 10 000 parking spaces until 2030. And last but not least, the airport will be carbon neutral.