The government of the Czech Republic has prepared a set of measures to help with the refugee wave and the integration of refugees, it also wants to reduce the price of fuel and abolish the road tax

A set of legislative proposals approved by the government of the Czech Republic at a meeting on Wednesday, March 9, will help to cope with the growing wave of refugees fleeing Ukraine from Russian aggression and to ensure decent living conditions during the first months of their life in Czechia. The cabinet proposed the definitive abolition of the Electronic Sales Registration Act and approved another part of material assistance for the struggling Ukraine. It will also set out steps to help manage the fuel price jump.

The government will propose to Parliament four legislative proposals to facilitate the current refugee wave, to help Ukrainian refugees integrate into Czech society, and to take into account the assistance that Czech citizens and companies provide to Ukrainians and Ukraine. It is also preparing further steps to mitigate the effects of the war that the Russian Federation is waging not only against Ukraine, but also economically against the entire Western civilization.

“We are facing a number of problems. We have tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of refugees, mostly women and children, who are looking to save their lives in our country, looking for safety from the war and death that threatens them at home. Hundreds of thousands of other people are on their way, and in no doubt some of them will end up here, because the Czech Republic is a country that is linguistically, culturally and geographically close to them, and because they have their acquaintances and relatives here. We are aware of that, we are preparing for it, we are doing everything possible to face the situation, “said Prime Minister Petr Fiala.

“I also want to say that the government greatly appreciates the civic support that Ukraine has enjoyed in our country in recent weeks. And despite everything the government does, despite the enormous support that can be felt from the whole society, the whole situation is a huge challenge for all of us. How to manage the onslaught organizationally and how to secure it financially. Therefore, we do everything not only because it is our human duty, but also because the sooner we manage it in the beginning, the better we set up the whole process and system, the better we will manage any further onslaught in the future and the less problems we will have in the coming weeks and months, “said Prime Minister Fiala. “It is not an easy situation. And we say it openly to the public and we say it clearly. But we want to manage it as best we can and I believe that we will succeed with the help of the citizens, which is really amazing, “he stated.

In the amendment to the Income Tax Act, the government wants to allow people and companies to deduct the value of donations to Ukrainians and Ukraine from the tax base if the conditions are met. Until now, it has been possible to deduct from taxes donations provided only in the territory of the Czech Republic and the European Union, so the circle will now be extended to the state of Ukraine, its territorial administrative units and persons with registered office or residence in Ukraine. At the same time, the proposal will allow tax residents of the state of Ukraine to deduct these donations from taxes, provided that they prove that income from the sources of the Czech Republic accounts for 90 percent of their taxable income. The authorities will also be able to forgive Ukrainian refugees the payment of administrative fees that they deem appropriate. For more information, see the press release of the Ministry of Finance.

The bill on certain measures in connection with the armed conflict in Ukraine caused by the invasion of Russian troops is intended to help cope with the strong refugee wave. It will make it possible to significantly simplify the process of obtaining a residence permit in the Czech Republic for refugees from Ukraine, so that refugees obtain the relevant residence title essentially immediately after submitting the application. It also regulates the provision of health services to refugees in our territory by granting them the status of a state insured person, even 30 days before the issuance of a visa for the purpose of tolerance.

With the proposed law on employment and social security measures in connection with the armed conflict in Ukraine caused by the invasion of Russian troops, the government wants to make it easier for refugees to get a job in the Czech Republic and access social services if they need it. Nationals of Ukraine who have been granted a special toleration visa at the time of an ongoing military conflict should be granted the same rights and obligations for employment purposes as foreigners with a permanent residence permit. Refugees will not need any additional permits for employment, not even from their employers, nor will they be subject to the applicable quotas.

The proposed bill is also intended to give them access to social services paid for by the state, they will be able to place children in children’s groups, even without proving a link to the labor market while maintaining the provider’s entitlement to a state budget contribution, etc. The government also proposes payment of humanitarian benefits in the amount of 5000 CZK (200 EUR) per person in the first month of stay in the Czech Republic, and if their material situation does not improve, they will be able to apply for this benefit in the following months. For details, see a press release from the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.

The government also decided to compensate the regions for accommodation of refugees from Ukraine in the amount of 180 CZK (7,20 EUR) per person per day and in the amount of 100 CZK (4 EUR) per child under 10 years and day until March 31st 2022.

The ministers also discussed the current high fuel prices in the Czech Republic. The government has prepared three concrete solutions. The amendment to the Air Protection Act will abolish the obligation to mix bio-components into fuels, which will reduce the price of petrol and diesel. It will relieve small entrepreneurs and companies by abolishing the road tax for vehicles up to 12 tons. Entrepreneurs will no longer have to pay the April road tax advance for the first quarter. The Ministry of Finance will commission a system of margin checks at distributors and sellers of fuel to the competent authorities, which should reveal a possible attempt to artificially increase fuel prices.

“It’s our oil shamrock. It is something that can help immediately, and at the same time, the state budget, which we also have to pay attention to in this difficult situation, in order to protect people’s savings and money, is burdensome. At the next European Council, which will meet on Thursday and Friday, I will discuss with other European leaders that European countries face the effects of the war in solidarity and together, not only on an economic level, “said Prime Minister Fiala.

The government will also send a bill to Parliament repealing the Electronic Sales Registration Act and related legislation. The government of Petr Fiala has abolished the obligation to use electronic records of sales in its program statement. The draft repealing law envisages that the obligation to use EET, which was suspended until December 31st 2022 due to the covid-19 pandemic, will no longer be renewed from January 1st 2023. “EET has not brought any significant financial resources to the state and not to entrepreneurs at all. It took the money from them. We believe that even this step, which has been announced some time ago, will give entrepreneurs security and help them, “said Prime Minister Fiala. For more information, see the press release of the Ministry of Finance.

Source: Government of the Czech Republic