The Commission adopted its Partnership Agreement with Czechia, laying down the country's cohesion policy investment strategy worth €21.4 billion for the period 2021-2027.
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Cohesion policy funds will continue to support the Czech regions in promoting economic, social and territorial cohesion and embracing key EU priorities such as the green and digital transition, including clean transport.
The funds will also contribute to the country's competitive, innovative and sustainable growth and employment as well to the improvement of skills and social inclusion.
The European Regional and Development Fund (ERDF) in Czechia will dedicate €3.4 billion to digitalise its economy, support research and innovation and increase growth and competitiveness of small and medium businesses (SMEs), as well as to support entrepreneurship, industrial transition and smart specialisation.
Investments worth €6.5 billion will increase the share of renewable energy sources, reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in public buildings and replace fossil fuel sources of energy with renewables, in support of REPowerEU objectives.
Moreover, Czechia will improve its response to climate change (e.g. floods, droughts) thanks to the dedicated programme ‘Environment' which will finance nature-based actions and restoration of natural ecosystems and sustainable water management. The country will also accelerate its transition to a circular economy in line with the New Circular Economy Action Plan.
The Just Transition Fund (JTF) will provide €1.5 billion for the restructuring of businesses in their transition to a low-carbon economy, preserving jobs, and for the diversification of the economy in the Czech regions most affected by the transition to a climate neutral economy.
Businesses will also develop new renewable energy sources, so as to bolster the circular economy.
The funds will also support improving the quality of formal and non-formal education and the skilling and re-skilling of workers to build up a labour force that is ready to take up the new jobs that will be created by the economic transformation.
Thanks to €4.1 billion from the ERDF and the Cohesion Fund, Czechia will develop clean urban and suburban public transport and charging infrastructure for clean vehicles. The future investments will contribute to increasing the quality, performance and attractiveness of rail as the backbone of sustainable transport. Finally, Czechia will use the EU funds to invest in sustainable, safe, climate-resilient, smart and interconnected national (non-TEN-T) and regional road infrastructure. ■