COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Analysis of the recovery and resilience plan of Czechia Accompanying the document Proposal for a COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING DECISION amending Implementing Decision (EU) (ST 11047/21 INIT; ST 11047/21 ADD 1; ST 11047/21 COR 1) of 8 September 2021 on the approval of the assessment of the recovery and resilience plan for Czechia

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    https://www.ft.dk/samling/20231/kommissionsforslag/kom(2023)0567/forslag/1980762/2754888.pdf

    EN EN
    EUROPEAN
    COMMISSION
    Brussels, 26.9.2023
    SWD(2023) 319 final
    COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT
    Analysis of the recovery and resilience plan of Czechia
    Accompanying the document
    Proposal for a COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING DECISION
    amending Implementing Decision (EU) (ST 11047/21 INIT; ST 11047/21 ADD 1; ST
    11047/21 COR 1) of 8 September 2021 on the approval of the assessment of the recovery
    and resilience plan for Czechia
    {COM(2023) 567 final}
    Offentligt
    KOM (2023) 0567 - SWD-dokument
    Europaudvalget 2023
    1
    Table of contents
    1. Executive summary ................................................................................................................. 2
    2. Objectives of the modification of the plan .............................................................................. 3
    2.1 The modified plan addresses Czechia’s main newly emerged challenges............................ 3
    2.2 Overview of new and modified components......................................................................... 4
    2.3 Other elements not covered by assessment criteria............................................................. 27
    3. Summary of the assessment of the plan ................................................................................ 29
    3.1. Comprehensive and adequately balanced response to the economic and social situation
    29
    3.2. Link with country-specific recommendations and the European Semester .................. 31
    3.3. Growth potential, job creation, economic, institutional and social resilience, European
    Pillar of Social Rights, mitigating the impact of the crisis, and social territorial cohesion and
    convergence............................................................................................................................... 34
    3.4. The principle of ‘do no significant harm’ ..................................................................... 35
    3.5. Green transition ............................................................................................................. 36
    3.6. Digital transition ............................................................................................................ 37
    3.7. Lasting impact of the plan ............................................................................................. 38
    3.8. Milestones, targets, monitoring and implementation .................................................... 39
    3.9. Costing .......................................................................................................................... 40
    3.10. Controls and audit ......................................................................................................... 42
    4. Coherence ............................................................................................................................. 45
    4.1. REPowerEU ................................................................................................................... 46
    4.2. Cross-border or multi-country dimension or effect ....................................................... 48
    ANNEX I: Climate tracking and digital tagging ......................................................................... 50
    2
    1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
    Czechia’s post-pandemic recovery was disrupted by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
    The Czech economy grew by only 2.5% in 2022, and consumer price inflation increased to 14.8%
    in 2022 due to fast-growing prices for commodities and production inputs, resulting in lower cost
    competitiveness. Energy dependency, particularly Czechia’s high reliance on fossil fuels, remains
    a major vulnerability together with housing affordability and administrative capacity of the public
    administration.
    In light of the socio-economic challenges that Czechia has been facing, the country submitted a
    modified national Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), including a REPowerEU chapter, to the
    Commission on 30 June 2023, and has revised its submission on 3 and 24 August 2023. For the
    modification of its RRP, Czechia has relied on the following legal bases of Regulation (EU)
    2021/241 (RRF Regulation): Article 14(2) to include additional loan support, Article 18(2) to take
    into account the updated maximum financial contribution published on 30 June 2022 and Article
    21(1), requesting to the Commission to make a proposal to amend the Council implementing
    decision considering that its RRP is partially no longer achievable because of objective
    circumstances. In addition, with the view to support measures in its REPowerEU chapter, Czechia
    relied on Article 21c of the RRF Regulation, requesting the allocation of the amount available
    from the Emissions Trading System (ETS) revenues and from the Brexit Adjustment Reserve
    (BAR).
    The modification submitted by Czechia affects nine measures on the basis of Article 18(2) of the
    RRF Regulation and 58 measures on the basis of Article 21(1) of the RRF Regulation. In addition,
    40 errors of clerical nature that do not reflect the content of the initial plan submitted by Czechia
    have been identified and corrections have been proposed.
    The REPowerEU chapter submitted by Czechia includes 15 new reforms, seven new investments
    and two scaled-up measures to complement the initial RRP, thus increasing the resilience, security
    and sustainability of the Union’s energy system. The reforms concern the modernisation of the
    electricity grid, the simplification of permitting procedures for renewable energy sources, the
    electrification of railways, the decarbonisation of road transport, the improvement of the advisory
    services for the renovation wave, and the promotion of green skills in universities. The reforms
    are accompanied by new investments including grants which accelerate the development and take-
    up of renewable energy. Finally, the scaled-up measures concern the installation of photovoltaic
    sources (existing measure 2.3) and support for the purchase of zero-emissions vehicles for private
    companies (existing measure 2.4).
    Based on the assessment of the submitted modification and the REPowerEU chapter, the Czech
    modified plan receives an A rating on all criteria (including the two additional criteria for the
    REPowerEU chapter), except for costing and coherence, where the plan receives a B rating
    (unchanged from the assessment of the initial plan).
    3
    (1)
    Balanced
    Response
    (2)
    CSRs
    (3)
    Growth,
    jobs…
    (4)
    DNSH
    (5)
    Green
    target
    (6)
    Digital
    target
    (7)
    Lasting
    impact
    (8)
    M & T
    (9)
    Costing
    (10)
    Control
    Systems
    (11)
    Coherence
    (12)
    REPowerEU
    (13) Cross-
    border
    A A A A A
    (42.9%)
    A
    (22.8%)
    A A B A B A A
    2. OBJECTIVES OF THE MODIFICATION OF THE PLAN
    2.1 The modified plan addresses Czechia’s main newly emerged challenges
    In 2022, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine led to a surge in energy and commodity prices in Czechia
    and the EU as a whole. The Country Report for Czechia1
    identified challenges related to its reliance
    on fossil fuels, limited availability of affordable housing, weak public administration capacity, and
    skills shortages. In addition, Czechia also faces challenges related to restoring the long-term fiscal
    sustainability of public finances, in particular, addressing challenges to the sustainability of the
    pension system and the healthcare system, as well as reducing the gap between regions in access
    to social services and essential infrastructure. Against this backdrop, Czechia’s modified RRP adds
    and scales up measures to address these current challenges, includes a REPowerEU chapter, and
    modifies existing measures in line with the provisions of the RRF Regulation.
    Pursuant to Article 14(2) of the RRF Regulation, Czechia included in the submitted modified RRP
    a request for loan support amounting to EUR 818 136 635, which would be used for 8 new
    investments to stimulate private investment in the green and digital transition. Pursuant to Article
    18(2) of the RRF Regulation, Czechia requested modifications due to the increase of its maximum
    net financial contribution from EUR 7 070 103 059 to EUR 7 673 717 943. The revision is part of
    the June 2022 update to the RRF maximum financial contribution and reflects Czechia’s relatively
    less favourable economic outcome in 2020 and 2021 than initially foreseen. Therefore, several
    investments have been added or scaled up, and the plan amounts to a total of EUR 9 231 951 405.
    The Czech modified RRP adds a new REPowerEU chapter pursuant to Article 21(c) and Article
    18(2) of the RRF Regulation. The REPowerEU chapter includes 15 new reforms, two scaled-up
    existing measures (2.3.1 development of new photovoltaic energy sources and 2.4.4 Investment
    Aid for purchase of vehicles – vehicles (electric, H2, cargo e-bikes) for private companies), and 7
    new investments (grid modernisation, electricity data centre; decarbonisation of road transport;
    electrification of railways and the pilot implementation of cyclic maintenance; promotion of green
    skills and sustainability in universities; reform of advisory services for energy efficiency
    renovation for households, enterprises and the public sector). This chapter will deliver on the
    REPowerEU objectives, contribute to Czechia’s green transition, and help address the current
    challenges, in particular those identified in the ‘energy’ recommendations addressed to Czechia in
    2022 and 2023 in the framework of the European Semester.
    Pursuant to Article 21(1) of the RRF Regulation, Czechia has justified the modification of existing
    measures of the plan based on objective circumstances. The objective circumstances invoked are
    1
    SWD(2023) 603 final.
    4
    mostly related to the need to factor in the effects of supply chain disruptions, the increased cost of
    construction, insufficient demand due to the high inflation experienced in 2022 and 2023, and
    unforeseen legal and administrative difficulties. Most of the proposed amendments relate to the
    postponement of the timeline for completion. Other proposed amendments are related to
    modification of the targets to account for the changed circumstances and the need to redesign the
    original measures as the existing ones are no longer attainable. In addition, errors of clerical nature
    have been identified in the text of the Council Implementing Decision and have been corrected.
    2.2 Overview of new and modified components
    The main elements of the modified RRP and the REPowerEU chapter are listed below by
    component:
    Component 1.1: Digital services to citizens and businesses
    Reform 2: eHealth services
    In accordance with Article 21(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia requested to amend the
    description of target 5 to align the names of the eHealth services with the Czech Act on the
    Digitalisation of Healthcare, in order to fully comply with the current legislative framework. This
    legislative act has been postponed due to different priorities of the Ministry of Health related to
    the COVID-19 pandemic and the draft proposal in place at the time of the adoption of the original
    plan has undergone substantial changes. Additionally, Czechia proposed to amend the description
    of target 6 due to the fact that the eHealth portal will now serve as an interface between patients
    and hospitals, as it is technically no longer suitable for data exchange between service providers.
    Instead, the interoperability ecosystem will be able to accommodate data exchange between
    service providers, keeping the ambition of the measure unchanged.
    Investment 1: Digital services for end-users
    Czechia proposed to amend milestone 8 in accordance with Article 21(1) of Regulation (EU)
    2021/241, while keeping the same level of ambition. The amendment will allow to replace 3 of the
    listed projects, which are considered no longer relevant due to objective circumstances, with other
    more viable projects (manifestly better alternative).
    Czechia also proposed to review the timeline of milestones 7 and 21, as well as the description and
    values of target 10.
    Investment 2: Development of open data and a public data fund
    The final part of the description was erroneously added to milestone 11, therefore Czechia
    proposed to remove it from the description due to clerical error and add an additional target with
    the correct description. Czechia also proposed to swap the timeline of completion of target 11 and
    12 in accordance with Article 21(1) of Regulation (EU), as one of the targets is delayed due to
    objective circumstances while the other has already been achieved.
    5
    New investment 4: Digital services for end-users in social area
    In accordance with Article 14(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia requested to add a new
    investment for digital services to citizens in the social area.
    Component 1.2: Digital public administration systems
    Investment 1: Developing and improving individual information systems
    In accordance with Article 21(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia requested to amend the
    description of milestone 16 to replace the project linking ePasy to core registries with the
    modification of ePasy according to the Travel Documents Act, which is a manifestly better
    alternative as the first project will be replaced within a few years. Additionally, the text which
    states that both systems will be available to end-users should be removed as the testing and
    development of the relevant connecting central systems at the EU level are managed by the
    European agency eu-LISA.
    The change in timeline for target 17 is justified under Article 21(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241,
    as the need to integrate Ukrainian refugees took priority for the Department for Asylum and
    Migration Policy and led to delays in other activities, including the work on the target proposed
    for postponement.
    Investment 2: Developing core registries and facilities for eGovernment
    In accordance with Article 21(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia requested to postpone
    milestone 21 due to supply chain disruptions, which delayed the delivering of hardware
    components from the contractors.
    Investment 3: Cybersecurity
    Czechia proposed to amend the description of target 24 as a clerical error in order to align it with
    the description of the target itself as well as the operational arrangements. Due to the increased
    allocation under Article 18(2), the quantitative indicator has also been increased.
    Czechia also proposed to add a new target under Article 14(2) that further increased the total
    number of information systems whose cybersecurity has been strengthened, increasing the overall
    ambition of the cybersecurity investment.
    Reform 2: Developing systems supporting the digitalisation of health
    In accordance with Article 21(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia requested to amend the
    description of milestone 28 due to the fact that regional services will be merged under one central
    authority and therefore mentioning the number of regions is no longer relevant.
    New investment 5
    6
    In accordance with Article 14(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia requested to add a new
    investment for the development of IT systems of the public administration in the social area.
    Component 1.3: High-capacity digital networks
    Reform 1: Improving the environment for the deployment of electronic communication
    networks
    The initial costs of this reform increased due to the unexpected rate of inflation in the economy. In
    accordance with Article 21(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia requested to use the
    resources freed up by the removal of other measures to cover the increase of the estimated cost of
    the reform.
    Investment 1: Building high-capacity connectivity
    The initial costs of this investment increased due to the unexpected rate of inflation in the economy.
    In accordance with Article 21(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia requested to use the
    resources freed up by the removal of other measures to cover the increase of the estimated cost of
    the investment.
    Investment 2: Covering 5G corridors and promoting the development of 5G
    The initial costs of this investment increased due to the unexpected rate of inflation in the economy,
    in particular of construction costs of base transceiver stations and of IT equipment necessary for
    signal reception and amplification. Czechia proposed also to change the total length of the covered
    train corridors as part of them will be covered by mobile network operators and specify the text
    regarding the equipment of railway wagons. In accordance with Article 21(1) of Regulation (EU)
    2021/241, Czechia requested to use the resources freed up by the removal of other measures to
    cover the increase of the estimated cost of the investment and to amend milestone 40 and target
    41.
    Investment 3: Supporting the development of 5G mobile infrastructure in rural investment
    intensive white area
    The initial costs of this investment increased due to the unexpected rate of inflation in the economy,
    in particular of construction costs of base transceiver stations, therefore, the original target is no
    longer achievable with the initially estimated costs. In addition, Czechia proposed to change the
    total number of base transceiver stations constructed as some of the white spots in rural areas
    planned to be covered by 5G signal will be covered by mobile network operators. In accordance
    with Article 21(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia requested to reduce target 44 and to
    increase the unit cost per base transceiver station.
    Investment 4: Scientific research activities related to the development of 5G networks and
    services
    7
    Czechia proposed to increase the target 46 due to the higher number of applications received for
    scientific research projects. The request reallocates funds from investment 58 under component
    1.4 with similar scope. In accordance with Article 21(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia
    requested to increase the funds allocated to this measure in line with the increased target.
    Component 1.4: Digital economy and society, innovative start-ups and new technology
    Reform 1: Institutional reform of the system of management for digital transformation
    including RIS 3 strategy
    Czechia initially set aside funds to procure studies for the support of the work of the Digital
    Transformation Committee in case it is necessary. However, no studies were required for the
    implementation of the measure, as necessary know-how can be supplied by participating
    stakeholders, which constitutes a manifestly better alternative solution, making the reform more
    cost-efficient. In accordance with Article 21(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia requested
    to reallocate the funds to other measures and to remove the reference to studies from the description
    of milestone 47.
    Reform 2: Joint Strategic Technologies Support and Certification Group with the Strategic
    Technologies Board
    The proposed change responds to market needs and refocuses the reform to provide better access
    to information, guidance and training for companies wishing to obtain certification. Czechia
    explains such change as the outcome of consultations with stakeholders and changed market needs
    identifying the dissemination of information on certification process as a major hurdle. In
    accordance with Article 21(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia requested to adjust the
    description of the reform and of milestone and target 48 and 49 and to correct a clerical error.
    Investment 1: European Centre of Excellence in AI “for Citizens’ Safety and Security”
    This investment is proposed to be cancelled, because the selected consortium did not obtain the
    Seal of excellence under the Horizon Europe programme. Consequently, the Czech hub would not
    be able to participate in the EU-wide network and fulfil its goal as originally foreseen for this
    investment. In accordance with Article 21(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia requested to
    cancel this investment and to reallocate the funds to other measures.
    Investment 2: European Digital Media Observatory Hub (EDMO)
    Czechia proposed to expand the scope of this investment in order to cater for monitoring and
    assessing the socio-economic impact on the media caused by the rapid deployment of AI. The
    expansion of the investment would compensate for the digital measures cancelled and aim at
    supporting the digital transition ambition of the Czech Recovery and Resilience Plan. In
    accordance with Article 21(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia requested to expand the
    scope of this investment with additional milestones and targets using reallocated funds.
    8
    Investment 3: Transfer of foreign good practices and know-how for digital transformation,
    monitoring and research on the socio-economic effects of the crisis (Samuel Neaman
    Institute)
    This investment is proposed to be cancelled due to the rapid improvement and the bounce back of
    the economy following the COVID-19 pandemic. Subsequently, there is less demand for a new
    research institute measuring socio-economic impact of digitalisation during pandemic, which
    made the original policy objective of the investment less relevant. In accordance with Article 21(1)
    of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia requested to cancel this investment and to reallocate the
    funds to other measures.
    Investment 4: SME Management Training Platform for post-COVID-19 Digital
    Transformation
    This investment is proposed to be cancelled due to the rapid improvement and the bounce back of
    the economy following the COVID-19 pandemic, which lowered the demand by SMEs for such
    mitigating measure and made the original policy objective of the investment less relevant. In
    accordance with Article 21(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia requested to remove this
    investment and to reallocate the funds to other measures.
    Investment 5: European Blockchain Services Infrastructure (EBSI)
    The proposed amendment adjusts milestone 55 and target 56 to cater for the delay in launching the
    initiative at the EU level and to exclude requirements from the description of target 56 that is
    beyond the control of Czechia. In accordance with Article 21(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241,
    Czechia requested to adjust the description and the timing of the milestone and the target and to
    lower the target.
    Investment 6: 5G Demonstrative application projects for cities and industrial areas
    The amendment corrects a clerical error in the description of target 58. In addition, Czechia
    requested to lower the target due to the unexpected increase of prices and lower demand in
    response to the call for application. A fraction of the allocation is redirected to investment 4 in
    component 1.3, which has a similar scope and an increase in its target. In accordance with Article
    21(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia requested to adjust the target and the costs allocated
    to this investment.
    Investment 7: Czech Rise-Up Programmes
    Czechia proposed to lower target 59 of this investment due to the rapid improvement and the
    bounce back of the economy following the COVID-19 pandemic, which lowered the demand by
    SMEs for such mitigating measure and made the original policy objective of the investment less
    relevant. In accordance with Article 21(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia requested to
    lower the target of this investment, to amend the wording to allow for broader scope of applicants
    and to reallocate the remaining funds to other measures.
    Investment 9: Funds for the development of pre-seed investments, strategic digital
    technologies and university spin-offs
    9
    The amendment of this investment leads to change in milestone 61 and target 62 due to possible
    higher aid intensity per companies as compared to the original costing assumption, which is a
    better alternative for achieving the policy objective. In accordance with Articles 14(2) and 21(1)
    of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia requested to amend the relevant milestone and remove the
    target in line with the aforementioned condition.
    Investment 11: Regulatory sandboxes in line with EU priorities
    The proposed amendment enlarges the scope of the companies eligible for sandbox support, given
    that the adoption of legislative framework on AI takes longer than Czechia initially anticipated,
    and companies cannot be tested against this framework in the sandbox yet. The proposal also
    adjusts the methodology for the implementation of the measure, in order to be in compliance with
    the relevant national and administrative law of Czechia. In accordance with Article 21(1) of
    Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia requested to amend the timing and the description of
    milestone 64 and target 65.
    Investment 13: Support to R & I in aviation industry
    Czechia requested to remove this investment. Czechia notified the Commission that it has been
    discovered that the project financed by this investment started before the eligibility period of the
    RRF. Therefore, in accordance with Article 17(2) and Article 21(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241,
    Czechia requested to cancel this investment and to reallocate the funds to other measures.
    New Investment 13: Funds for the development of strategic technologies
    In accordance with Article 14(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia requested to add a new
    investment for the development of capital market and access to finance for companies in the
    strategic technologies sector.
    Component 1.5: Digital transformation of enterprises
    Investment 2: European Reference Testing and Experimentation facility
    Czechia requested to specify the target description as the beneficiaries of the measure are
    companies, therefore, in accordance with Article 21(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia
    requested to amend the description of target 70. The proposed amendment also corrects a clerical
    error.
    Investment 3: Digital transformation of manufacturing and nonproduction companies and
    increase of their resilience
    Czechia proposed to lower the allocation of this investment and amend the description of milestone
    71 cancelling the budgetary target in line with this change. This is due to the received applications,
    which overall requested lower aid support than initially planned by Czechia, thereby making the
    fulfilment of the budgetary target in the description of target 71 no longer achievable.
    Consequently, the remaining available allocation is proposed to be redirected to other measure to
    compensate for price increases. In accordance with Article 21(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241,
    10
    Czechia requested to amend the description of target 71 and to redirect remaining available funds
    to other measures.
    Investment 4: IPCEI Microelectronics and Communication Technologies
    The newly added investment aims at providing financing companies who participate in projects
    selected under IPCEI Microelectronics and Communications Technologies. In accordance with
    Articles 14(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia requested this measure to be added to the
    plan and financed by loans.
    Component 1.6: Acceleration and digitalisation of the building process
    Reform 1: Implementation of the new construction law and zoning law into practice
    In accordance with Article 21(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia proposes to change the
    target to reflect the new institutional structure of construction offices and required more time to
    achieve it. This is based on new information concerning the impossibility to staff the relevant
    offices as originally proposed as well as further analyses on the most efficient set up.
    Investment 1: Central information system (‘AIS’)
    In accordance with Article 21(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia proposes to change the
    information system structure to correspond to the new institutional structure mentioned in the
    reform above. Furthermore, they have improved on their designed information system plans based
    on evidence from other Member States.
    Component 1.7: Digital Transformation of Public Administration
    Czechia proposes a new measure to reform the system of digitalisation in public administration
    and to invest in the availability of digitalised public services. As part of the measure Czechia
    proposes to invest in a public administration contact centre, in a unified system collecting data on
    digitalisation projects in the public administration, in increasing the cybersecurity and the user
    friendliness of public administration websites, and to reform the internal management of
    digitalisation projects in the administration. In accordance with Article 18(2) of Regulation (EU)
    2021/241, Czechia proposes to add this measure to the plan.
    11
    Component 2.1: Sustainable transport
    Investment 3: Support for railway infrastructure
    In accordance with Article 21, Czechia has proposed to extend the timeline for the completion of
    the measure from Q4 2023 to Q4 2024. Czechia stated that this was due to an objective
    circumstance based on a difficult-to-predict price instability caused by Russian aggression in
    Ukraine and lower imports from China as a result of COVID-19, leading to a postponement of
    issuing of public contracts caused by a lack of interest from suppliers. Difficult-to-predict price
    instability appeared at the beginning of 2022. The ambition of the measure was not changed.
    Component 2.2: Reducing energy consumption in the public sector
    Investment 1: Improving the energy performance of state buildings
    As the cost of construction has increased, there has been low interest from state institutions in the
    conducted call for projects to improve the energy performance of state buildings. In accordance
    with Article 21 of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia has proposed to extend the date by which
    renovation projects can be contracted to 31 December 2024, and to decrease the target for the
    reduction in final energy consumption from 216 TJ/year to 140 TJ/year.
    Investment 2: Improving the energy efficiency of public lighting systems
    Czechia is prioritising the implementation of bigger projects that improve the energy efficiency of
    public lightning systems. In accordance with Article 21 of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia has
    proposed to reduce the number of supported projects from 2000 to 800, while generating the same
    amount of energy savings. As a result of this this change, the number of projects to be contracted
    by 31 December 2024 (80% of total number of projects) will also change from 1600 to 640.
    Investment 3: Improving the energy performance of public buildings
    Due to the increased cost of construction and the different types of projects responding to the call
    for projects (i.e., bigger and more complex projects compared to the projects on which the initial
    costing analysis was based), Czechia has requested an increase of the allocation to Investment 1
    and a reduction in the number of supported projects. In accordance with Article 18(2) and Article
    21 of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia has proposed to reduce the number of supported projects
    from 400 to 220, and to increase the target for reduction in primary energy consumption from 390
    TJ/year to 410 TJ/year.
    Component 2.3: Transition to cleaner energy sources
    Reform 1: Modernisation of distribution of heat in district heating systems
    In accordance with Article 21(1), Czechia requested to delay the end of the implementation from
    Q3 2022 to Q4 2023, citing an objective circumstance due to the energy crisis, changes in the
    12
    energy markets, the REPowerEU objectives and the more general trend of going beyond the simple
    coal-to-gas switch.
    Reform 2: Modernisation of distribution of heat in district heating systems
    In accordance with Article 21(1), Czechia requested to delay the end of the implementation from
    Q4 2022 to Q4 2023, citing an objective circumstance due to the energy crisis, changes in the
    energy markets, the REPowerEU objectives and the more general trend of going beyond the simple
    coal-to-gas switch.
    Component 2.4: Clean mobility
    Investment 1: Building infrastructure for public transport in the city of Prague
    In accordance with Article 21(1), Czechia requested to delay the end of the physical
    implementation from Q4 2025 to Q2 2026, citing an objective circumstance due to supply side
    disruption caused by companies and suppliers due to the high demand for electrification in public
    transport. Czechia quoted several examples where this has already occurred for the sole beneficiary
    of the investment.
    Investment 2: Building infrastructure – Recharging points for private companies
    In accordance with Article 21(1), Czechia requested to remove several requirements which
    imposed access to third parties and geographical distribution for charging stations built for
    business users. Czechia cited a clerical error, as the imposition of these requirements goes counter
    to the intention of building corporate fleets and thus creates a barrier to implementation of the
    measure.
    Investment 4: Aid for purchase of vehicles – vehicles (electric, H2, cargo e-bikes) for private
    companies
    In line with Article 21(1) of the RRF Regulation, Czechia proceeded to request a change in the
    ambition to reflect the high inflation, increased unit costs and supply shortages linked to supply
    chain issues in the automotive sector to which Czechia did not contribute. This resulted in a
    decrease of investment 4 from the overall target of 4550 to 2670 vehicles. However, the change in
    the ambition of the measure must be read in conjunction with Investment 1 of Component 7.5
    under REPowerEU, which results in a scale-up of the overall ambition. This is achieved through
    an increase in the number of cars and vans by 500 units, while maintaining the overall ambition of
    4555 vehicles.
    Further changes to investment 4 have been put forward based on objective circumstances. Czechia
    requested a decrease to the number of cargo e-bikes, as Czechia provided data showing that the
    uptake of e-bikes has surpassed expectations compared to the time of drafting. Czechia also
    requested a change to the labelling of cars and vans supported without the need to split the vehicles
    by technology by unifying battery electric and hydrogen cars and vans under a category of zero-
    13
    emission cars and vans. This is a more optimal solution, as it gives applicants more flexibility to
    choose their respective type of vehicles to suit their business needs while ensuring only zero-
    emission solutions are supported.
    Component 2.5: Building renovation and air protection
    Investment 1: Renovation and revitalisation of buildings for energy savings
    Due to the increase in energy prices, requests from applicants have shifted from complex
    renovations to replacements of heating sources with heat pumps and photovoltaics. In accordance
    with Article 21 of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia has requested to shift a portion of the
    allocated funding from Investment 1 to Investment 2. In conjunction with the decrease in funding
    allocation for Investment 1, Czechia has also requested to decrease the target for reduction in
    primary energy consumption by 31 December 2025 from 4 021 TJ/year to 1 900 TJ/year, a
    decrease in the reduction in CO2 emission from 631 kt/year to 100 kt/year.
    Investment 2: Replacement of stationary sources of pollution in households with renewable
    energy sources
    Due to the increase in energy prices, requests from applicants have shifted from complex
    renovations to replacements of heating sources with heat pumps and photovoltaics. In accordance
    with Article 21 of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia has requested to shift a portion of the
    allocated funding from Investment 1 to Investment 2. In conjunction with the increased funding
    allocation to Investment 2, Czechia has also requested to increase the targets for reduction in
    primary energy consumption and CO2 emissions for the contracted projects.
    Component 2.6: Nature protection and adaptation to climate change
    Investment 1: Flood protection
    In accordance with Article 21(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia has proposed to delay the
    final target with sequential number 133 by one year and to reduce the total number of projects to
    be completed from 40 to 38. In addition, Czechia has requested to reduce the number of projects
    to be completed under target 132 from 20 to 15 and to increase proportionally the number of
    projects to be completed under target 133 from 18 to 23. Lastly, Czechia has requested to modify
    the description of targets 132 and 133 to better reflect the nature of the projects to be implemented.
    This is a result of both technical difficulties and inflation.
    Investment 2: Small watercourses and small water reservoirs
    In accordance with Article 21(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, and in response to technical
    difficulties linked to constraints such as geological conditions and land ownership, Czechia
    proposed changes in the description of target 136 to reflect the nature of the projects more
    accurately.
    14
    Investment 3: Land consolidation
    In accordance with Article 21(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia proposed to delay final
    targets with sequential number 137 and 138 by one year. This responds to the worsened situation
    in the construction industry and to lengthier procedures than initially predicted.
    Investment 4: Building forests resilient to climate change
    Clerical errors have been corrected in both the description of the investment and the description of
    targets 139 and 141.
    Investment 5: Water retention in forest
    Clerical errors have been corrected in both the description of the investment and the description of
    targets 142 and 143.
    Component 2.7: Circular economy, recycling and industrial water
    Investment 1: Building recycling infrastructure
    In accordance with Article 21(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, the description of Investment 1,
    milestone 148 and target 149 is adjusted to include support to farmers for the reintroduction of
    compost into the soil in addition to the construction and modernisation of compositing facilities.
    This is more conducive to achieving the initial objectives of the measure and to meeting the needs
    in the field of biodegradable waste management.
    Investment 3: Water saving in industry
    In accordance with Article 21(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia proposed to remove the
    budgetary target from the description of target 153 as the awarded 40 projects are less costly than
    initially envisaged. A new call cannot be launched to allocate the remaining resources as this could
    overlap with a similar programme to be financed through OP Technologies and Application for
    Competitiveness.
    Component 2.8: Brownfields revitalisation
    Investment 1: Investment aid for regeneration of specific brownfield sites
    In accordance with Article 21(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia requested to reduce the
    number of projects to be supported and completed under this investment measure to reflect the
    impact of inflation on construction costs. Due to technical difficulties impacting local demand, the
    description of target (previously milestone) 154 and target 155 is further adjusted to clarify
    requirements and better respond to local needs. These changes primarily concern procedural,
    financial and geographical aspects, and are also intended to clarify the requirements pertaining to
    the limitation of land artificialisation while preserving the measure’s environmental ambition.
    15
    Investment 2: Investment aid for the regeneration of brownfield sites owned by
    municipalities and regions for non-business use
    In accordance with Article 21(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia requested to reduce the
    number of projects to be supported and completed under this investment measure to reflect the
    impact of inflation on construction costs. Due to technical difficulties impacting local demand, the
    description of target (previously milestone) 156 and target 157 is further adjusted to clarify
    requirements and better respond to local needs. These changes primarily concern procedural and
    financial aspects such as the minimum allocation to be spent per category of projects. In addition,
    target 157 is reduced from 94 000 to 41 000 square meters of built-up area following the correction
    and updating of the methodology used for setting up the indicator.
    Investment 3: Investment aid for the regeneration of brownfield sites owned by
    municipalities and regions for business use
    In accordance with Article 21(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, the description of target
    (previously milestone) 158 and target 159 is adjusted to clarify requirements and allow the
    implementation of alternatives that are more conducive to achieving the initial objectives of the
    measure and meeting local needs. These changes primarily concern procedural and financial
    aspects such as the minimum allocation to be spent per category of projects.
    Component 2.9: Promotion of biodiversity and fight against drought
    Investment 1: Protection against droughts and floods of the city of Brno
    Czechia requested to correct clerical errors in the description of the investment and of milestone
    162 to reflect the initial intention with regard to the precise location and nature of the investment.
    The investment focuses on flood protection of the city of Brno in general and flood protection
    measures in the section of the river Svratka more specifically.
    Investment 2: Rainwater management in urban agglomeration
    In accordance with Article 21(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia proposed a change to
    target 163 with a reduction of volume of rainwater retained from 40 000 to 20 000 cubic meters.
    This is explained by the increase in prices of building materials and by the results of the call for
    interest which concluded that there is a higher demand for cost-intensive projects with lower
    contribution to rainwater retention.
    Investment 3: Protected areas including Natura 2000 sites and protected species of plants
    and animals
    Czechia requested to correct a clerical error in the description of the investment and of milestone
    164 to better reflect the initial intention with regard to deliverables under this investment.
    16
    Investment 4: Adaptation of aquatic, non-forest and forest ecosystems to climate change
    In accordance with Article 21(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia asked to use the resources
    freed up by the removal or revision of measures to increase the number of hectares of revitalization
    of watercourses from 4 to 68 hectares.
    Reform 2: Development of landscape policy and planning
    Czechia proposed a new reform with EUR 3.4 million estimated costs to develop an integrated
    landscape policy and planning. The policy shall ensure cross-sectorial coordination and multi-
    stakeholders’ involvement. The reform is expected to promote the conservation and sustainable
    use of nature resources.
    Component 2.10 Affordable Housing Reform
    In accordance with Article 14 of Regulation (EU) 2021/241 Czechia proposed a new component
    to address the current and escalating housing availability crisis by boosting the supply of rental
    housing units at affordable prices which will be implemented through three investments via
    financial instruments.
    In addition, in accordance with Article 18(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia proposed a
    new reform on the Housing Act to support the implementation of the aforementioned investments.
    Component 3.2: Adaptation of school programmes
    Investment 1: Development of selected key academic sites
    In accordance with Article 21 (1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia proposed an increase in
    the allocation for the whole measure in order to compensate for inflation.
    Investment 2: Tutoring of pupils
    In accordance with Article 21(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia requested to make changes
    in the description of the investment and target 183. Due to an unexpectedly tight labour market
    and unexpectedly high administrative burden, a better alternative was found where targeting of the
    measure is left to the schools and the impact of the measure is evaluated through an ex-post
    evaluation.
    Component 3.3: Modernisation of employment services and labour market development
    Investment 1: Development of labour market policies
    In accordance with Article 21(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia requested to broaden the
    eligible types of training providers on target 187 from Investment 1 (from employers to employers
    and professional or business associations). This would enable a better achievement of the target,
    17
    since the initial description was too narrow in terms of training providers and there would be
    insufficient training capacity.
    Investment 2: Increasing the capacity of childcare facilities
    In accordance with Article 21(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia requested to postpone the
    deadlines by half a year for targets 189, 190 and 191, and to add flexibility on whether new
    facilities consist of other energy efficient renovations or new builds. The reason behind this change
    are supply chain issues, bottlenecks in the construction sector and inflation.
    In addition, in line with Article (18)(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia proposed a new
    target on childcare capacities including the Amendment of the Act on Social and Legal Protection
    of Children, the acquisition of housing for children at risk, and renovating or building facilities for
    children at risk.
    Investment 3: Development and modernisation of social care infrastructure
    In accordance with Article 21(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia requested changes to
    targets 194, 195, 196 and 197.
    For targets 194 and 195, Czechia proposed to lower the target, to broaden the type of facilities and
    postpone the deadline by half a year. In addition, an amendment to the UNCRPD Convention
    assessment was amended to make the assessment more efficient and still in line with the
    Convention. For targets 196 and 197, Czechia proposed to increase the allocation to take into
    account the increase of its financial contribution and to postpone the target by a year. This was
    done in order to add the possibility of buying more BEVs and fewer hybrids (i.e., overachieve the
    green target), while taking into account the supply chains issues in the automotive sector.
    Component 4.1: Systemic support for public investment
    In accordance with Article 18(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia proposed four new
    measures amounting to EUR 166.8 million to provide methodological support for the preparation
    of projects, to modernise the strategic framework and capacities in the area of public procurement,
    to support preparation of investment projects and to increase number of staff working on
    implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Plan in Czechia.
    Component 4.3: Anti-Corruption reforms
    Reform 1: Protection of whistle-blowers
    The distribution of milestones and targets in instalments should be amended to take into account
    the new allocation, the amendments of the plan and the indicative timeline presented by Czechia.
    18
    Reform 4: Establishing rules for lobbying
    The distribution of milestones and targets in instalments should be amended to take into account
    the new allocation, the amendments of the plan and the indicative timeline presented by Czechia.
    Component 4.4: Enhancing the efficiency of public administration
    Reform 1: Increased efficiency, pro-client orientation and the use of the principles of
    evidence-based decision-making in public administration.
    In accordance with Article 18(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia proposed six new actions
    amounting to EUR 11 million to improve policy co-ordination and strategic planning at the centre
    of government, promote evidence-informed decision making and to attract and develop skills in
    the public service.
    Component 5.2: Support for research and development in companies and introduction of
    innovations into business practice
    Investment 2: Support for R&D cooperation (in line with the National RIS3 Strategy)
    On the basis of Article 21(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia has proposed to modify target
    228 due to an identified better alternative in the implementation of the investment and following
    the actual interest in the call. The requested change brings the measure more in line with the actual
    implementation of the investment, including an increase of the number of the SMEs supported.
    Investment 3: Aid for research and development in the field of the environment
    On the basis of Article 21(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia proposed to modify target 229
    due to an identified better alternative in the implementation of the investment following the actual
    interest in the call. The requested change brings the measure more in line with the actual
    implementation of the investment, including an increase of the number of the projects supported.
    Investment 4: Support for research and development in synergy effects with the Framework
    Programme for Research and Innovation
    On the basis of Article 21(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia has proposed to modify target
    230 to remove the distinction in the budget distribution between the Seal of Excellence projects
    and the ERA NET Cofunds projects, to allow for a flexible re-distribution of the overall budget.
    This is due to the actual costs of the projects and interest in the calls identified after the relevant
    call announcements.
    Investment 5: Aid for research and development in enterprises in line with the national RIS3
    strategy
    In accordance with Article 18(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia has proposed a new
    measure amounting to EUR 53.9 million to support R&D projects in line with the national RIS3
    19
    strategy. This contributes to addressing country-specific recommendation 3 2019 according to
    which Czechia shall remove the barriers hampering the development of a fully functioning
    innovation ecosystem and country-specific recommendation 3 2020, according to which Czechia
    shall ensure access to finance for innovative firms and improve public-private cooperation in
    research and development.
    Investment 6: Aid for research and development in the field of transport
    In accordance with Article 18(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia has proposed a new
    measure amounting to EUR 8 million to support R&D projects in the field of transport. This
    contributes to addressing country-specific recommendation 3 2019 according to which Czechia
    shall remove the barriers hampering the development of a fully functioning innovation ecosystem,
    and country-specific recommendation 3 2020, according to which Czechia shall ensure access to
    finance for innovative firms and improve public-private cooperation in research and development.
    Investment 7: Aid for research and development in the field of environment
    In accordance with Article 18(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia has proposed a new
    measure amounting to EUR 17.9 million to support R&D projects in the field of environment. This
    contributes addressing country-specific recommendation 3 2019, according to which Czechia shall
    remove the barriers hampering the development of a fully functioning innovation ecosystem, and
    country-specific recommendation 3 2020, according to which Czechia shall ensure access to
    finance for innovative firms and improve public-private cooperation in research and development.
    Component 5.3: A strategically managed and internationally competitive R&D&I ecosystem
    In accordance with Article 18(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Czechia has proposed a new reform
    which entails the strengthening of strategic intelligence capacities for the R&D&I policy in
    Czechia, the creation of a grant scheme supporting the involvement of research teams in
    international R&D&I support programmes, and the harmonization of procedural rules for granting
    public R&D&I support. No additional allocation is envisaged for this reform. This contributes to
    addressing the country-specific recommendation 3 2019, according to which Czechia shall remove
    the barriers hampering the development of a fully functioning innovation ecosystem.
    REPowerEU Chapter
    Component 7.1: Strengthening distribution networks and increasing their connectable
    power
    Czechia has proposed a new component which aims to support the deployment of renewable
    energy projects by streamlining permit granting procedures.
    20
    Investment 1: Construction, strengthening, reconstruction and modernization of
    distribution systems
    The proposed investment shall help to accommodate the expected increase in demand for
    integrating the intermittent renewables into the grid, in specific locations of distribution systems.
    At least 1777 MW of cumulative additional capacity for connection of renewable energy sources
    to the distribution networks in Czechia shall be achieved.
    Investment 2: Development of new photovoltaic energy sources
    The objective of this investment is to scale up measure 2.3.1 Investment: Deployment of
    Photovoltaics. The scaled-up part of the measure shall increase the installed capacity of sources of
    photovoltaic powers plants on the roof of companies’ buildings.
    Reform 1: Simplifying permitting procedures for renewables
    The proposed reform shall remove the requirement to obtain a construction permit, a license to
    produce electricity, a grid connection authorization and a zoning consent decision for renewable
    power installations with a total installed capacity of up to 50 Kw.
    The proposed reform shall simplify the permitting procedure for renewable energy installations
    with an installed capacity above 1 MW. Those installations shall be considered as of public
    interest, will benefit from a preferential treatment as regards zoning permits and building permits.
    Reform 2: Accelerating and digitalizing permitting process for renewables
    The proposed reform shall set differentiated, binding maximum deadlines for all relevant stages of
    the procedure based on the capacity. The duration of the entire permit granting process (including
    grid connection) shall not exceed two years for installations from 150 kW and one year for
    installations below 150 kW. For solar installations in artificial structures, the permit granting
    process shall not exceed one month. The reform shall establish a digital one stop shop, acting as
    single point of contact to help applicants throughout the entire permitting procedure.
    Reform 3: Improving the predictability, transparency and availability of grid connection
    process
    The objective of the proposed reform is to improve the use of available electricity grid capacity
    and to facilitate the connection of renewable energy sources to the grid and self-consumption.
    Sub-measure 1: Improve transparency of the grid connection procedure
    The reform aims to remove barriers to grid connection process introducing binding time limits for
    the grid connection procedures, taking into account requirements on the duration of the permit-
    granting process under EU law; reducing the duration of the assessment and contract from 30 to
    15 days for distribution system operators (DSO) (including low, medium and high voltage) and
    from 60 to 30 days for Transmission System Operator (TSO) (high voltage).
    The objective of the reform is also to address the challenges linked to the overbooking of available
    capacities while enhancing the accountability of the DSO.
    21
    Every month, the three regional DSOs shall publish a transparency map on their website including
    for each of their respective areas of operation, information on available grid connection capacities
    for new connections at all voltages levels, publish aggregated anonymized connection
    requirements of accepted and rejected requests.
    Sub-measure 2: Regulatory incentives for electricity network operators to increase grid
    flexibility
    The reform aims to revise the regulatory framework governing DSO/TSO investments and tariffs,
    in view of ensuring smooth integration of additional renewable energy sources into the Czech
    energy mix.
    The reform shall contribute to the increase of the additional cumulative connection capacity of at
    least 8000 MW of renewable energy sources to the distribution networks in Czechia.
    Component 7.2: Supporting the decentralisation and the digitalisation of the energy sector
    Czechia has proposed a new component which aims to decentralise and digitalise the electricity
    sector through investment in data platform and reforms facilitating the uptake of new activities
    such as energy communities, flexibility and storage.
    Reform 1: Energy communities
    The objective of the reform is to establish a regulatory framework in view of incentivizing and
    facilitating the development of renewable energy communities. The reform shall introduce
    incentives for the development of energy communities and encourage activities they can engage
    in, such as collective production and consumption within the energy community framework.
    Investment 1: Electricity Data Centre
    The objective of the measure is to set up an Electricity Data Centre (EDC). The EDC shall manage
    a digital IT platform collecting data on generation, consumption and flexibility at one central
    location and providing technical services to enhance the security and reliability of the operation of
    the electricity system of the Czech Republic for the benefit of all market participants (including
    end customers). The creation of the EDC aims to support the creation of new market and activities
    and to enable energy sharing.
    The EDC shall ensure the coordination, sharing and exchange of measured data as well as the
    matching and data processing related to the provision of flexibility, flexibility aggregation and
    electricity storage. It shall also provide services in the following areas: collection and provision of
    metering data, data evaluation for the purpose of energy storage, energy sharing, flexibility
    aggregation, balancing, grid scheduling, market registration, transmission of metering data, a
    network light traffic systems and master data registration. The access to technical functionalities
    provided by of the EDC information system shall be non-discriminatory and be open to all market
    participants. Customers, distribution system operator, electricity suppliers and electricity market
    operators shall be able to access data they are entitled to under the relevant applicable legislation.
    22
    Reform 2: Energy Storage and Non fossil flexibility framework
    This measure aims to develop, approve and deploy a comprehension regulatory framework for
    flexibility services such as energy storage, demand response, aggregation that will be included in
    the LEX RES 3. The objective is to promote the development of innovative technical,
    technological and software solutions for energy flows optimization that will help ensure RES
    integration to the grid and enable the electricity system and grid to adjust to the variability of
    electricity generation and consumption across different time horizons.
    Component 7.3: Comprehensive reform of the advisory system for the Renovation Wave in
    the Czech Republic
    Czechia has proposed a new component which aims to streamline the process of renovation project
    preparation, increase the expertise and capacity in the area of energy efficiency renovations, raise
    awareness of energy poverty and available solutions, and ultimately increase the number and
    quality of residential renovation projects.
    Reform 1: One-stop-shops for energy communities and energy efficiency renovations
    The reform shall be implemented by conducting an evaluation of the pilot operation of three
    regional one-stop-shops which provide households, enterprises and the public sector with advice
    on energy efficiency renovations. The evaluation shall be formalised in a study which draws
    lessons learnt and recommends actions for improvement in the operation of regional one-stop-
    shops. The reform shall also include support measures towards the education and information of
    municipalities and citizens on the concept and advantages of energy communities, including the
    creation of one-stop-shops to provide technical support on regulatory, technical, financial and
    organisational aspects.
    Reform 2: Data and methodological guidance for the advisory system
    The reform shall be implemented by preparing data and methodological guidance to be used in the
    provision of advisory services for households. The methodological guidance shall include a
    module on energy poverty and how to advise vulnerable households.
    Investment 1: Provision of advisory services to households
    The investment shall be implemented by providing advisory services to at least 120 000 household,
    enterprise, or public sector projects via the regional one-stop-shops.
    Investment 2: Awareness raising
    The investment shall be implemented by conducting a nation-wide public awareness-raising
    campaign on energy poverty and the reduction of energy consumption.
    23
    Component 7.4: Green Skills
    A new component has been proposed based on Article 18(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, with
    the objective of supporting the adaptation of universities to changing needs of the labour market
    by promoting green skills development in study curricula. This will be done via establishing new
    study programmes, adding new courses to existing programmes and establishing lifelong learning
    courses. In addition, public universities will adopt new Sustainable and Green Transition Strategies
    and will propose the addition of strategic partnerships between public universities and a third party
    developing green skills.
    Component 7.5: Decarbonisation of road transport
    A new component has been proposed based on Article 21(c) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241 with
    the objective of increasing the uptake of zero-emission vehicles and the associated charging and
    refuelling infrastructure.
    Reform 1: National Action Plan for Clean Mobility and deployment targets for zero-emission
    mobility
    The proposed reform will revise the National Action Plan for Clean Mobility to make it fit for
    purpose, reflecting the goals of the EU Green Deal and the associated legislation. It will aim to
    promote an accelerated uptake of zero-emission vehicles of various vehicle types, in particular by
    setting out targets for the increase of registration of zero-emission vehicles between 2022 and
    2026.
    Reform 2: Tax measures in support of zero-emission mobility
    The proposed reform will result in the revision of the Income Tax Act to provide two tax benefits
    for companies operating zero-emission vehicles. First, the Income Tax Act shall set out an
    accelerated depreciation for all zero-emission vehicles that will benefit reduce the tax burden of
    these vehicles. Second, the Income Tax Act will also be revised to allow for company in-kind
    benefits for company cars schemes that will primarily benefit zero-emission cars over low-
    emission and conventionally fuelled vehicles, giving an incentive for both employees and
    employers to opt for zero-emission cars.
    Reform 3: Improving the regulatory framework for renewable hydrogen
    The proposed reform aims to revise the Czech hydrogen regulatory framework for the hydrogen
    sector, notably by updating the Hydrogen Strategy. The reform will align the national framework
    with EU framework, prepare an action plan aiming to define public funding properties and
    timelines for launching calls, and prepare a list of legislation, secondary regulation, and technical
    norms that would need to be revised to provide appropriate enabling conditions for the hydrogen
    sector.
    24
    Reform 4: Enabling conditions for zero-emission alternative fuels infrastructure
    The proposed reform aims to simplify and ease the construction, permitting process, and operation
    of electric charging infrastructure and hydrogen refuelling stations. The reform aims to revise the
    Construction Act to provide preferential treatment for chargers through simplified definition of
    building types. The reform shall also aim to adopt measures identified as enabling conditions under
    Reform 1 (the revision of the National Action Plan for Clean Mobility).
    Reform 5: Incentivising zero-emission mobility through changes in highway vignette costs
    The proposed reform aims to create an incentive for the uptake of zero-emission road vehicles,
    namely of passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, and vehicles above 4.25 tonnes, by
    differentiating and benefiting these types of vehicles over conventional vehicles and highway
    vignette fees. The reform aims to achieve these changes by revising the annual highway fees by
    increasing the fees by no less than 50% compared to 2022 baselines, as well as through
    implementing the revised Eurovignette Directive with voluntary aspects that would allow zero-
    emission trucks to benefit from a 75% discount of tolls compared to conventional vehicles.
    Investment 1: Aid for purchase of vehicles – vehicles (electric, H2, bikes) for private
    companies (Scale-up of existing measure)
    The proposed investment constitutes a scale-up measure of Investment 4 from component 2.4. The
    investment will result in 4555 vehicles, of which 4055 shall be zero-emission cars and vans, and
    500 e-bikes. When taking the original measure and the nature of the scale up of the measure lies
    in the increase of zero-emission cars and vans by 500 units. The proposed investment amounts to
    EUR 32 million of estimated costs.
    Component 7.6: Rail
    A new component has been proposed under Article 21b based on a request of Czechia to transfer
    EUR 55 million from Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR).
    Investment 1: Electrification of Brno Region
    The proposed investment is for the electrification for the length of 9.9km of railway track. This is
    to be achieved through the electrification project ‘Brno - Zástavka u Brna, stage 2’, which is to be
    completed by Q2 2026. The proposed investment amounts to EUR 55.5 million.
    Component 7.7: Simplifying environmental permitting processes and defining areas for the
    development of renewable energy sources
    The purpose of this component is to simplify and streamline permitting processes related to the
    deployment of renewable energy generation projects.
    Reform 1: Single Environmental Opinion
    25
    The objective of the measure is to introduce a single environmental opinion and support its
    implementation by the Czech administration. The reform on the Single Environmental Opinion is
    expected to simplify and streamline the environmental permitting process, including for renewable
    energy projects, while taking into account the environmental interests of nature and landscape
    conservation and the requirements under EU law as well as other international legal on public
    participation and access to justice in environmental matters.
    Reform 2: Renewable acceleration areas
    The objective of the sub-measure is to support the accelerated deployment of wind and solar power
    technologies in specific locations called renewables acceleration areas, with a total capacity of at
    least 2.5 GW. The reform aims to create the possibility for regions and municipalities to designate
    renewables acceleration areas for solar and wind power technologies, based on the principles of
    territorial development. Each participating area is to include targets installed capacity (MW) for
    wind and solar energy established for a region following a mapping of the areas necessary for
    national contribution towards the 2030 renewable target. The designation of renewables
    acceleration areas is to be implemented by Q3 2025 in most regions.
    26
    Table 1: New and modified components and associated costs
    Component Status Costs (EUR million)
    1.1: Digital services to citizens and businesses Modified 126.9
    1.2: Digital public administration systems Modified 662.9
    1.3: High-capacity digital networks Modified 286.9
    1.4: Digital economy and society, innovative start-ups and new
    technology
    Modified 232.1
    1.5: Digital transformation of enterprises Modified 143.3
    1.6: Acceleration and digitalisation of the building process Modified 56.8
    1.7: Digital Transformation of Public Administration New 44.7
    2.1: Sustainable transport Modified 942.6
    2.2: Reducing energy consumption in the public sector Modified 411.3
    2.4: Clean mobility Modified 194.5
    2.5: Building renovation and air protection Modified 759.5
    2.6: Nature protection and adaptation to climate change Modified 514.8
    2.7: Circular economy, recycling and industrial water Modified 121.4
    2.8: Brownfields revitalisation Modified 130.9
    2.9: Promotion of biodiversity and fight against drought Modified 159.6
    2.10: Affordable Housing Reform New 358.0
    3.2: Adaptation of school programmes Modified 603.1
    3.3: Modernisation of employment services and labour market
    development
    Modified 985.2
    4.1: Systemic support for public investment New 152.7
    4.4: Enhancing the efficiency of public administration Modified 12.6
    5.2: Support for research and development in companies and
    introduction of innovations into business practice
    Modified 206.1
    5.3: A strategically managed and internationally competitive
    R&D&I ecosystem
    New 0
    7. REPowerEU Chapter
    7.1: Strengthening distribution networks and increasing their
    connectable power
    New 390.5
    7.2: Supporting the decentralisation and the digitalisation of the
    energy sector
    New 33.7
    7.3: Energy consulting New 168.5
    7.4: School adaptation – Promoting green skills and sustainability
    in universities
    New 42.1
    7.5: Decarbonisation of transport New 32.0
    7.6: Electrification of railways and railway sector reforms New 55.5
    7.7: Simplifying environmental permitting processes and defining
    areas for the development of renewable energy sources
    New 13.1
    27
    2.3 Other elements not covered by assessment criteria
    Consistency with other initiatives
    The previous description of consistency with other programmes as reflected in the previous Staff
    Working Document SWD(2021) 211 final, remains valid.
    In addition, the RRP outlines its contribution to the European Year of Skills. The most prominent
    contribution to skills for school students and university students is provided by the labour market
    components and a new component in the REPowerEU chapter on green skills. The latter focuses
    on supporting education and training systems so that university students have access to quality and
    inclusive education on sustainability, climate change, environmental protection and biodiversity
    in order to strengthen the green transition and sustainable development. In particular, component
    3.1 focuses on supporting the skills of young people so that they are equipped to respond to
    challenges linked to the digital transition of the education system, by strengthening digital literacy
    and computational thinking of pupils. Component 3.2 focuses on increasing the capacities of
    universities and adapting study programmes to new forms of learnings in specific the digital
    expertise and also on dealing with growing inequalities at the level of primary and lower secondary
    education. In addition, reforms and investments in both components 3.1 and 3.2 support the
    adaptation of schools to distance learning and with a focus on schools with a higher share of pupils
    with weak socio-economic backgrounds.
    The measures in the REPowerEU chapter complement and are consistent with the Czech Hydrogen
    Strategy and the National Clean Mobility Action Plan, and will contribute to achieving the updated
    2030 targets as set out in the forthcoming update of the Czech National Energy and Climate Plan.
    National arrangements for the implementation of the plan
    The description of the national arrangements for the implementation of the plan as reflected in the
    previous Staff Working Document SWD (2021) 211 final remains valid.
    The introduction of dedicated support measures to strengthen the administrative capacity and, in
    particular, the staffing of the authorities responsible for implementing the RRF (from 217 to 470
    by the end of 2024) under the new Component 4.1 ‘Systemic support for public investment’ is
    expected to improve the effective monitoring and implementation of the RRP and it is assessed
    under the chapter on ‘Milestones, targets, monitoring and implementation’ of this document.
    Gender equality and equal opportunities for all
    The previous description of the Czech RRP’s focus on gender equality and equal opportunities for
    all, as reflected in the previous Staff Working Document SWD(2021) 211 final, remains valid. In
    addition, the modified RRP includes new reforms and investments in the field of affordable
    housing, which are expected to improve equal opportunities for all.
    Stakeholder consultation
    The consultation on the initial intentions of the modified plan was launched at the meetings of the
    Committee for the RRP (established in May 2021) in June and December 2022. Subsequently, the
    component owners elaborated the reforms and investments in the modified plan and continued
    28
    consultations with key national stakeholders in early 2023. Reforms and investments included in
    the modified plan were discussed with economic, social and territorial partners at the meetings of
    the Committee for the RRP in March and May 2023. Formal consultation took place during a
    week-long inter-ministerial consultation in May 2023, when government authorities, economic,
    social and non-governmental partners (such as the Confederation of Industry, the Chamber of
    Commerce, the Czech Banking Association, the Confederation of Employers’ and Entrepreneurs’
    Associations, the Association of Independent Trade Unions and the Green Circle) had the
    opportunity to comment on the proposals. The modified plan includes an overview of the
    consultations with national stakeholders. It provides a timeline of the consultation process and
    some information on the results and how contributions were taken into account.
    Implementation and digital security self-assessment
    The description of the implementation and digital security self-assessment as reflected in the
    previous Staff Working Document SWD(2021) 211 final remains valid.
    Cross-border and multi-country projects
    Several measures included in the modified plan have a multi-country or cross-border dimension.
    In particular, the railway electrification, decarbonisation of road transport, energy savings in
    residential and public buildings are expected to reduce Czechia’s energy demand and the reliance
    on fossil fuels. Other examples include the reforms on implementing a single environmental
    opinion and designating renewables acceleration areas, the investments in the reinforcement of
    electricity distribution networks, and the installation of photovoltaics sources, which have a cross-
    border effect since they will contribute to both the deployment and integration of renewable energy
    sources into the electricity network.
    Communication strategy
    The description of the communication strategy as reflected in the previous Staff Working
    Document SWD(2021) 211 final remains valid.
    The communication activities for the key reforms and investments contained in the modified plan,
    will include:
    • updates on the communication and media campaign, including on the REPowerEU chapter,
    and the state of play of their implementation;
    • promotional activities on the occasion of the annual conference and requests for payment;
    • communication activities through print, audiovisual and social media, including the main
    www.planobnovycr.cz website, direct communication via database or direct mailing, the
    use of social networks, and a final campaign to communicate the key reforms and
    investments implemented as well as the results and benefits of the plan.
    State aid
    State aid and competition rules fully apply to the measures funded by the Recovery and Resilience
    Facility. Union funds channelled through the authorities of Member States, like the RRF funds,
    become State resources and can constitute State aid. When this is the case and State aid is present,
    these measures must be notified and approved by the Commission before Member States can grant
    29
    the aid, unless those measures are covered by an existing aid scheme or comply with the applicable
    conditions of a block exemption regulation, in particular the General Block Exemption Regulation
    (GBER) declaring certain categories of aid compatible with the internal market in application of
    Articles 107 and 108 TFEU2
    . When State aid is present and it requires notification, it is the duty
    of the Member State to notify State aid measures to the Commission before granting them, in
    compliance with Article 108(3) TFEU. In this respect, the State aid analysis carried out by Czechia
    in the recovery and resilience plan cannot be deemed a State aid notification. In as far as Czechia
    considers that a specific measure contained in the recovery and resilience plan entails de minimis
    aid or aid exempted from the notification requirement, it is the responsibility of Czechia to ensure
    full compliance with the applicable rules.
    3. SUMMARY OF THE ASSESSMENT OF THE PLAN
    3.1. Comprehensive and adequately balanced response to the economic and social
    situation
    The modifications to Czechia’s RRP further strengthen and confirm the previous assessment that
    the RRP is a comprehensive and adequately balanced response to the country’s economic and
    social situation. The update of the Czech RRP makes use of an extensive array of sources of
    financing available from increased financial allocation under Article 18 of the RRF Regulation,
    REPowerEU financial contribution as well as some loan financing in order to increase the ambition
    of the already approved plan, in line with the increased need of a stronger response to the renewed
    economic challenges. The economic and social consequences of COVID-19 crisis have been
    further aggravated by Russian’s unprovoked military aggression on Ukraine and the consequent
    energy crisis which led to a significant increase in inflation (HICP in Czechia reaching 14.8% in
    2022, one of the highest in EU) and further challenges in terms of achieving the green and digital
    transition, maintaining a social equity when confronted with the high inflation, while ensuring
    further economic growth.
    As a result, the update of the plan comes to further increase the ambition in several existing
    components and add new measures which address all the six pillars of the facility, including: (i)
    green transition due to the REPowerEU chapter, (ii) social and territorial cohesion with the new
    component 2.10 Affordable Housing, (iii) smart, sustainable & inclusive growth addressed in
    component extension 5.2 Support for research and development in companies, (iv) Policies for the
    next generation addressed in component 2.10 Affordable Housing, (v) Health, and economic,
    social and institutional resilience addressed in the new component 4.1 Systemic support for public
    2
    Annex to the Communication to the Commission of 9 March 2023 on the Approval of the content of a draft for a
    Commission Regulation amending Regulation (EU) No 651/2014 declaring certain categories of aid compatible with
    the internal market in application of Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty and Regulation (EU) 2022/2473 declaring
    certain categories of aid to undertakings active in the production, processing and marketing of fishery and aquaculture
    products compatible with the internal market in application of Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty; available at:
    https://competition-policy.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2023-
    03/GBER_amendment_2023_EC_communication_annex_0.pdf
    30
    investment, and (vi) Digital transformation addressed in extensions of components 1.2 Digital
    public administration systems or 1.3 High capacity digital networks.
    Table 2: Coverage of the six pillars of the Facility by Czechia’s RRP components
    Green
    transition
    Digital
    transforma
    tion
    Smart,
    sustainable
    & inclusive
    growth
    Social and
    territorial
    cohesion
    Health,
    economic,
    social and
    institutional
    resilience
    Policies for
    the next
    generation
    1.1 Digital services for citizens and
    businesses
    ● ○ ○ ● ○
    1.2 Digital public administration systems ● ○ ○ ● ○
    1.3 High-capacity digital networks ● ○ ○ ○
    1.4 Digital economy and society, innovative
    start-ups and new technologies
    ● ● ○
    1.5 Digital transformation of enterprises ● ●
    1.6 Acceleration and digitalization of the
    building process
    ● ○ ○
    1.7 Digital Transformation of Public
    Administration
    ● ○ ○
    2.1 Sustainable and safe transport ● ○ ○
    2.2 Reduction energy consumption in the
    public sector
    ● ○
    2.3 Transition to cleaner energy sources ● ● ○
    2.4 Clean mobility ○ ●
    2.5 Building renovation and air protection ● ○ ○ ○
    2.6 Nature protection and adaptation to
    climate change
    ○ ○ ○
    2.7 Circular economy, recycling & industrial
    water
    ● ●
    2.8 Brownfields revitalisation ● ● ○
    2.9 Promotion of biodiversity and fight
    against drought
    ○ ○
    2.10 Affordable Housing Reform ○ ● ○ ○
    3.1 Innovation in education in the context of
    digitalisation
    ● ● ○ ●
    3.2 Adaptation of school programmes ○ ● ● ●
    3.3 Modernisation of employment services
    and labour market development
    ● ● ○ ●
    4.1 Systemic support for public investment ○ ○ ○ ○ ● ○
    4.2 New quasi-equity instruments to support
    entrepreneurship and development of the
    ČMZRB as a national level bank
    ● ●
    4.3 Anti-corruption reforms ●
    4.4 Enhancing the efficiency of public
    administration
    ○ ○ ○ ○ ● ○
    4.5 Development of the cultural and creative
    sectors
    ○ ● ○ ○
    5.1 Excellent R&D in the health sector ● ●
    5.2 Support for R&D in companies and the
    introduction of innovations into business
    practice
    ● ●
    5.3 Strategy intelligence-driven and
    internationally competitive research,
    development and innovation ecosystem
    ● ●
    31
    Green
    transition
    Digital
    transforma
    tion
    Smart,
    sustainable
    & inclusive
    growth
    Social and
    territorial
    cohesion
    Health,
    economic,
    social and
    institutional
    resilience
    Policies for
    the next
    generation
    6.1 Increasing resilience of the health system ○ ●
    6.2 National plan to strengthen oncological
    prevention and care
    ○ ●
    7.1 Strengthening distribution networks and
    increasing their connectable power
    ● ● ○
    7.2 Supporting decentralization and
    digitalization of the energy sector
    ● ● ○
    7.3 Comprehensive reform of the advisory
    system for the renovation wave
    ● ● ○
    7.4 School adaptation – Promoting green
    skills and sustainability in universities
    ● ○ ●
    7.5 Decarbonisation of transport ● ●
    7.6 Electrification of railways ● ○ ○
    7.7 Simplifying decision-making processes
    and defining areas for the development of
    renewable energy sources
    ● ○ ○ ○
    Key: “●” investments and reforms of the component significantly contribute to the pillar; “○” the component partially
    contributes to the pillar
    ***
    Taking into consideration all reforms and investments envisaged by Czechia, its modified recovery
    and resilience plan continues to represent, to a large extent, a comprehensive and adequately
    balanced response to the economic and social situation, thereby contributing appropriately to all
    six pillars referred to in Article 3 of the RRF Regulation, taking the specific challenges and the
    financial allocation of Czechia into account. This would warrant a rating of A under criterion 2.1
    in Annex V to the RRF Regulation.
    3.2. Link with country-specific recommendations and the European Semester
    The addendum of the plan along with the REPowerEU chapter and the additional loan
    request, addresses a significant subset of challenges identified in the European Semester. As
    the maximum financial contribution for Czechia has been adjusted upwards, and as the size of the
    plan increased following an additional loan request intended to be used not exclusively for
    REPowerEU objectives, all 2022 and 2023 structural recommendations are considered in the
    overall assessment. The modifications to Czechia’s RRP confirm and strengthen the previous
    assessment that the RRP is contributing to effectively addressing all or a significant subset of the
    country specific recommendations addressed to Czechia for the years 2019, 2020 and 2021, since
    32
    Czechia does reduce some investments in the digital component (in the area of digital economy
    and digital transformation of enterprises) but compensates with additional investments in public
    administration information systems or digitalisation of enterprises.
    In 2023, Czechia was recommended to take action in 2023 and 2024 in four main policy areas. To
    begin with, Czechia was recommended to preserve nationally financed public investment and to
    ensure the effective absorption of RRF support and other EU funds, in particular to foster the green
    and digital transitions (CSR 1.2, 2022 and CSR 1.3 2023). For the period beyond 2024, Czechia
    was recommended to continue to pursue a medium-term fiscal strategy of gradual and sustainable
    consolidation, combined with investments and reforms conducive to higher sustainable growth, to
    achieve a prudent medium-term fiscal position and to take measures to ensure the long-term fiscal
    sustainability of public finances, including the sustainability of the pension system (CSR 1.4 and
    CSR 1.5 2023). The second recommendation consisted in accelerating the implementation of its
    recovery and resilience plan, also by ensuring an adequate administrative capacity, and swiftly
    finalise the addendum, including the REPowerEU chapter, with a view to rapidly starting its
    implementation (CSR 2, 2023). The third recommendation consists in strengthening the provision
    of social and affordable housing, including by adopting a specific legislative framework for social
    housing and improved coordination between different public bodies, as well as incentivising the
    construction of new housing units as well as the refurbishment of existing ones (CSR 3 2022 and
    CSR 3 2023). Furthermore, Czechia was recommended to reduce overall reliance on fossil fuels
    and diversify of fossil fuel imports, accelerate the deployment of renewables, streamline permit
    procedures and make grid access easier (CSR 4.2 2022, CSR 4.2 2023 and CSR 4.3 2023).
    Moreover, Czechia was recommended to increase the energy efficiency of district heating systems
    and of the building stock by incentivising deep renovations and renewable heat sources (CSR 4.4
    2023). Finally, Czechia was recommended to promote the uptake of zero-emission vehicles and to
    boost the availability of high capacity charging and refuelling infrastructure through new reforms,
    as well as to step up policy efforts aimed at the provision and acquisition of the skills needed for
    the green transition (CSR 4.5 2023 and CSR 4.6 2023).
    A set of new measures of the Czech plan, including the REPowerEU chapter, expand public
    investment for the green transition and for energy security (CSR 1.2, 2022). They include
    investments in the modernisation of electricity distribution grids, deployment of photovoltaics
    sources and advisory services for energy efficiency renovations. Such measures address the
    country specific recommendation CSR 3.4 2020 to promote private investment to foster the
    economic recovery.
    New measures in the recovery and resilience plan contribute to improving the provision of social
    and affordable housing (CSR 3 2022 and CSR 3 2023). Under a new component 2.10, a reform
    through the Housing Act addresses the current and escalating housing availability crisis while
    mitigating the effects of the energy crisis by enabling the supply of a more energy efficient
    affordable housing stock. The reform is accompanied by three investments implemented via
    33
    financial instruments. Their purpose is boosting the supply of rental housing units at affordable
    prices.
    Various new measures of the REPowerEU chapter aim at reducing overall reliance on, and
    consumption of fossil fuels by accelerating the deployment of renewables, including through
    further streamlining permit procedures and making grid access easier (CSR 4.2 2023, CSR 4.3
    2023 and CSR 4.2 2022). Investments in grid modernisation and digitalisation (Component 7.1)
    aim at reinforcing the electricity distribution networks and are backed by reforms which streamline
    and increase transparency of the grid connection process and introduce new grid tariffs. They are
    accompanied by legislative reforms (LEX RES 2 and LEX RES 3) under Component 7.2
    establishing frameworks for energy communities, electricity sharing, data exchange, energy
    storage, aggregation and flexibility. A comprehensive reform of the advisory services for the
    renovation wave (Component 7.3) aims to increase the number and quality of energy efficiency
    renovation projects in residential buildings. Component 7.7 supports renewable energy generation
    towards administrative simplification. They foresee reforms on the designation of renewable
    acceleration areas, simplification of permitting procedures for small scale renewables installations
    (PV rooftop), acceleration and digitalisation of all RES permitting procedures, and the
    implementation of a single environmental opinion for renewable energy projects. They are
    accompanied by investments for the construction of new photovoltaic installations under the
    existing Component 2.5. A set of added measures focus on increasing the energy efficiency of
    district heating systems and of the building stock by incentivising deep renovations and renewable
    heat sources (CSR 4.4 2023 and CSR 4.3 2022). Component 7.3 includes a comprehensive reform
    of the advisory services system for energy efficiency renovations for households, enterprises and
    the public sector. The reform seeks to increase the number and quality of building renovations
    projects, and is supported by investments which will fund the provision of 120,000 advisory
    services, training of professionals for the Renovation Wave, and a nation-wide awareness-raising
    campaign on energy efficiency. A set of added measures aim at intensifying efforts to improve the
    sustainability of the transport system in line with CSR 4.5 2023, CSR 3.7 2020 and CSR 3.1 2019.
    Component 7.5 aims to address decarbonisation of road transport. It consists of 5 reforms and 1
    investment which aim at incentivising the uptake of zero-emission road transport and sustainable
    transport infrastructure. Component 7.6 focuses on increasing electrification of rail networks in
    Czechia.
    Many of the new measures help further address those country specific recommendations that are
    already addressed by the initial RRP. Additional measures that focus on strengthening the R&D
    ecosystem and supporting research and development in companies and introduction of innovations
    into business practice will address CSR 3.8 2020 to ensure access to finance for innovative firms
    and improve public-private cooperation in research and development and CSR 3.6 2019 to remove
    the barriers hampering the development of a fully functioning innovation ecosystem. Furthermore,
    a new Component 4.1 will support the administrative capacity for the implementation of the RRP
    and address CSR 3.3 2020 to front-load mature public investment projects and CSR 3.4 2019 to
    34
    reduce the administrative burden on investment, as well as CSR 3.5 2019 to support more quality-
    based competition in public procurement. Finally, several new digital measures aim at extending
    online services for the implementation of social policies. They include digital services for end
    users in the social area, development information systems in social area, and an IPCEI
    Microelectronics and Communication Technologies. They address CSR 3.2 2020 to improve e-
    government.
    Czechia’s modified RRP continues to address the country specific recommendations (CSRs). The
    priorities of the plan are coherent with progress on the relevant country-specific recommendations.
    As a result of the proposed reforms and investments addressing the most imminent challenges to
    the Czech economy and society, the priorities of the plan focus on the relevant issues and are
    expected to contribute effectively to the resolution of these challenges.
    ***
    Taking into consideration the reforms and investments envisaged by Czechia, its modified recovery
    and resilience plan is expected to contribute to effectively addressing all or a significant subset of
    challenges identified in the country-specific recommendations, or challenges in other relevant
    documents officially adopted by the Commission under the European Semester, and the modified
    recovery and resilience plan represents an adequate response to the economic and social situation
    of Czechia. This would warrant a rating of A under criterion 2.2 in Annex V to the RRF Regulation.
    3.3. Growth potential, job creation, economic, institutional and social resilience,
    European Pillar of Social Rights, mitigating the impact of the crisis, and social
    territorial cohesion and convergence
    As part of the modification of the RRP, Czechia has put forward further reforms aimed at
    strengthening the provision of affordable housing, improving childcare services, and the
    digitalisation of services to citizens and businesses. In particular, Czechia has proposed reforms in
    the area of renewable energy sources, including simplifying the linking of renewables to the grids
    as well as measures supporting energy communities and acceleration of areas for renewables. The
    modification of the plan also includes resources to financial instruments to incentivise affordable
    housing.
    The REPowerEU chapter includes additional resources in the area of energy investment through
    investments focusing on the modernisation of electricity grids, the deployment of photovoltaic
    sources, and advisory support towards the renovation of private and public buildings, and the
    establishment of energy communities. These investments will stimulate the creation of green jobs.
    In addition, Czechia also commits to reforms on zero emission transport, in particular by deploying
    and simplifying permitting process for construction of electric charging stations and hydrogen
    refuelling stations and updating its Clean Mobility Action Plan. In view of reforms and investments
    put forward as part of the amendment of the RRP, the initial positive assessment of the impact of
    the plan on growth potential, job creation, and territorial and social cohesion, remains unchanged.
    35
    The mix of investments and reforms presented by Czechia is set to stimulate economic growth
    through multiple channels. In particular, measures in the area of housing are expected to make the
    largest contributions to economic growth and job creation.
    ***
    The nature and the extent of the proposed modifications to Czechia’s recovery and resilience plan
    confirm and strengthen the previous assessment (Rating of A) of the plan’s impact on the growth
    potential, job creation and economic and social and institutional resilience of the Member State,
    on contributing to the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, including through
    the promotion of policies for children and youth, and on mitigating the economic and social impact
    of the COVID-19 crisis, thereby enhancing the economic, social and territorial cohesion and
    convergence within the Union, as reflected in the SWD(2021) 211 final.
    3.4. The principle of ‘do no significant harm’
    The modified Czech recovery and resilience plan including the REPowerEU chapter is expected
    to continue to ensure that no measure included in the plan does significant harm to environmental
    objectives, within the meaning of Article 17 of the Taxonomy Regulation. None of the measures
    included in the REPowerEU chapter requires a DNSH derogation.
    Czechia has conducted an adequate Do No Significant Harm (DNSH) assessment of all new
    measures under the revised plan as well as for all reforms and investments included in the
    component 19 (REPowerEU chapter). The DNSH assessment was performed in line with the
    methodology set out in the Commission’s technical guidance on the application of DNSH under
    the RRF Regulation (2021/C58/01). It covers the six environmental objectives applying a two-step
    approach. The first step assesses whether there is a risk that a measure could do significant harm
    to one or more of the environmental objectives. In cases where the analysis identifies a risk, a more
    detailed assessment is performed. Based on information provided by the Czech authorities, there
    is either no risk of significant harm, or where a risk is identified, a more detailed assessment is
    performed demonstrating the absence of significant harm.
    DNSH safeguards have been clarified and reformulated in the existing brownfields measures to
    facilitate its application, without reducing the ambition, namely the requirement on conservation
    of valuable biodiversity areas.
    ***
    Taking into consideration the assessment of all the measures envisaged, no measure for the
    implementation of reforms and investments projects included in Czechia´s modified recovery and
    resilience plan, including its REPowerEU chapter, is expected to do a significant harm to
    environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) No 2020/852 (the
    principle of ‘do no significant harm’). This would warrant a rating of A under the assessment
    criterion 2.4 of Annex V of the RRF Regulation.
    36
    3.5. Green transition
    The measures of the REPowerEU chapter are expected to contribute to the green transition, or
    address the challenges resulting therefrom, as well as to the achievement of the Union 2030 climate
    targets while complying with the objective of EU climate neutrality by 2050. The measures are
    broadly split into five thematic areas: modernisation of the electricity grid, renewable energy,
    energy efficiency, zero emissions transport, and green skills.
    The reforms and investments in grid modernisation and digitalisation (thematic area 1) aim at
    reinforcing the electricity distribution networks and are backed by reforms which streamline and
    increase transparency of the grid connection process and introduce new grid tariffs. The chapter
    also includes legislative reforms establishing frameworks for energy communities, electricity
    sharing, data exchange, energy storage, aggregation and flexibility.
    The second thematic area concerns renewable energy and foresees reforms on the designation of
    acceleration areas for renewable energy sources, simplification of permitting procedures for small
    scale renewables installations, acceleration and digitalisation of all RES permitting procedures,
    and the implementation of a single environmental opinion for renewable energy projects. It also
    includes investments for the construction of new photovoltaic installations. In the third thematic
    area on energy efficiency the emphasis is on improving the energy efficiency performance of the
    building stock. There is one measure, a comprehensive reform of the advisory services for the
    renovation wave.
    The fourth thematic area on clean mobility focuses on the decarbonisation of road transport. The
    measures include a revision of the Clean Mobility Action Plan, deployment targets for zero-
    emission vehicles (ZEVs), an investment as well as regulatory and tax incentives for the uptake of
    ZEVs, and easier permitting rules for the construction of charging stations and hydrogen refuelling
    stations. The fifth thematic area contains a reform and investments promoting green skills and
    sustainability in universities. The aim is to modernise the learning offer of public universities by
    creating new courses, study programmes, and lifelong learning opportunities focusing on green
    skills.
    Climate target
    On the basis of the assessment guidelines provided for in sub-criterion 5b, the measures in the
    modified RRP (including the REPowerEU chapter) supporting climate change objectives account
    for 42.9% of the plan’s total allocation (i.e., above the 37% required), based on the methodology
    for climate tracking set out in Annex VI. The most important contribution to this target is the
    investment in the strengthening and modernisation of the electricity distribution system.
    Additionally, the proposed measures within the REPowerEU chapter supporting climate change
    objectives account for 99% of the chapter’s total estimated costs, based on the methodology for
    climate tracking set out in Annex VI. The most important contributions to this target are the
    investments in the modernisation of the electricity distribution grid, the provision of advisory
    services for energy renovation, and the deployment of solar photovoltaics generation.
    ****
    37
    The nature and extent of the proposed modifications to Czechia’s recovery and resilience plan do
    not have a material impact on the previous assessment (rating of A) of the contribution of the plan
    to the green transition and to the climate target, as reflected in the previous SWD(2021) 211 final.
    3.6. Digital transition
    The modification of the plan maintains its ambition towards the digital transition. The modified
    RRP continues to significantly contribute to the digital transition of businesses, infrastructure, and
    public administration, and to fostering digital skills of the workforce, the pupils and the general
    population, with an expected lasting impact. The modified plan includes 52 investments and
    reforms included in the calculation of the digital target, totalling EUR 1 936 122 562 of
    contribution to the digital transition.
    Several modifications increase the plan’s allocation to the digital transition. These include a top-
    up of EUR 333.9 million to investment 3 under component 1.2, which increases its ambition in the
    number of public administration information systems with strengthened cybersecurity. In addition,
    3 new measures have been introduced under existing components: investment 4 under component
    1.1 (EUR 14.7 million) and investment 6 under component 1.2 (EUR 44.3 million), which
    introduce new online services for the implementation of social policies; and investment 4 under
    component 1.5 (EUR 46.5 million), which foresees financing of projects promoting research and
    innovation in microelectronics.
    The modified plan also includes a new component contributing to the digital transition: 1.7, which
    includes 4 measures (EUR 44.7 million) that aim to accelerate the digitalisation of public
    administration.
    The modified plan entails modifications to 33 existing measures contributing to the digital
    transition. These include a removal of 4 measures (investments 1, 3, 4, 13 under component 1.4)
    and a decrease in the cost allocation of 4 measures (investments 6, 7 under component 1.4, reform
    1 and investment 3 under component 1.5). These modifications do not constitute reductions of the
    plan’s allocation to the digital transition, as the freed-up funds are reallocated to other digital
    measures to strengthen their ambition or to compensate for inflation (reform 1 and investments 1,
    2, 4 under component 1.3, investment 2 under component 1.4). Other modifications include shifts
    in the completion deadline, reductions in the target ambition due to objective circumstances
    without changes to the total cost estimate, as well as minor clerical corrections in the text of
    milestones or targets, all of which do not affect the plan’s allocation to the digital transition.
    None of the measures included in the REPowerEU chapter were identified as contributing to the
    digital transition.
    All other milestones and targets contributing to the digital transition remain unchanged. Therefore,
    based on the methodology set out in Annex VII of the RRF Regulation, the contribution to digital
    objectives accounts for 22.80% (excluding the measures in the REPowerEU chapter). This is an
    increase of 0.68 percentage points compared to the original plan.
    ***
    38
    Taking into consideration the assessment of all the measures envisaged, the modified recovery and
    resilience plan is expected, to a large extent, to make a significant contribution to the digital
    transition or to address the challenges resulting from it and ensures that at least 20% of its total
    allocation (excluding the measures in the REPowerEU chapter) contributes to supporting digital
    objectives. This would warrant a rating of A under criterion 2.6 of Annex V to the RRF Regulation.
    3.7. Lasting impact of the plan
    The modified RRP plan does not reduce the ambition of the initial plan as a whole. It takes into
    account the prolonged impact of the COVID-19 crisis, inflation and supply chain disruptions, as
    well as some unexpected legal or technical difficulties or the availability of better alternatives for
    the implementation of some measures by modifying measures in accordance with Article 21(2) of
    Regulation (EU) 2021/241. It also includes new and scaled-up measures as a result of the increase
    in the financial contribution and the up-take of loans and includes a new REPowerEU chapter.
    These additional measures, together with the existing measures, are expected to have lasting
    positive effects on the Czech economy and further boost its green and digital transition.
    Twenty-seven new or enhanced reforms included in the modified RRP are expected to have a long-
    lasting impact on Czechia. Furthermore, the Act on Affordable Housing shall be adopted to
    increase housing affordability – one of the lowest in the EU. Finally, to support children’s
    development, the placement of children into institutional care under the age of four shall be
    banned. In addition, Czechia will also strengthen its administrative capacity by a number of actions
    financed under components 4.1 and 4.4, focused both on implementation of the RRP and a wider
    set of public policies. Czechia will also adopt steps to improve the R&D ecosystem, which include,
    for instance, the adoption of a new methodological guideline to harmonise the conditions for
    granting public support for research. Additionally, the REPowerEU chapter includes 15 new
    reforms to modernise and digitise the electricity grid, simplify permitting procedures and decision-
    making for renewable energy sources, electrify railways, decarbonise road transport, improve the
    advisory services for the renovation wave, and promote green skills in universities. These
    REPowerEU measures will have a lasting impact on Czechia’s electricity and transport systems
    and contribute to job creation in the renewables and building renovations sectors.
    New investments included in the modified RRP are expected to have a long-lasting impact on
    Czechia. These investments introduce or enhance 27 measures related to cybersecurity and
    modernisation of public administration, supporting access to financing for companies, supporting
    development of microelectronics under the IPCEI initiative, boosting the supply of affordable
    housing, supporting R&D projects in the environmental field and in the field of transport, as well
    as by stimulating private investments with venture capital fund for strategic technologies. The
    REPowerEU chapter includes investments which aim to hasten the development and take-up of
    renewable energy generation and its dedicated infrastructure.
    ***
    The nature and extent of the proposed modifications to Czechia’s recovery and resilience plan do
    not have a material impact, and rather confirm and strengthen the previous assessment (rating of
    39
    A) of the lasting impact of the measures proposed by Czechia, as reflected in the previous
    SWD(2021) 211 final.
    3.8. Milestones, targets, monitoring and implementation
    The milestones and targets of the modified Czech RRP enable an adequate monitoring of the plan’s
    implementation. Be it under article 18 of the RRF Regulation or the new REPowerEU chapter,
    each of the new reforms and investments introduced under the revised RRP includes at least one
    target and/or milestone that contains the key elements of the measure and allows for the assessment
    of the achievement of its objectives. The modified RRP includes a set of 102 new milestones and
    targets, including 48 under the new REPowerEU chapter. Milestones set for reforms are based on
    the achievement of decisive steps in the implementation process, such as the adoption of revised
    actions plans and strategies, the entry into force of legal acts, the entry into operation of digital
    applications or the publication of evaluation studies. These milestones are clear and realistic as
    they reflect decisive steps towards the complete implementation of each reform.
    The performance of the investments included in the new components and REPowerEU chapter
    will be assessed on the basis of the achievement of multiple milestones and targets monitored by
    each public entity in charge of implementing the measures and capturing the key implementation
    stages of each investment. The targets chosen – some of which build on existing targets for scaled
    up measures - are consistent with the objectives, cost estimates and implementation schedule of
    each measure and quantified by specific indicators reflecting the result of the works undertaken
    (for example, the new capacity of photovoltaic energy sources installed and put into operation).
    The adjustments made to the plan’s original milestones and targets under Article 21 of the RRF
    Regulation do not affect the plan’s overall level of ambition and are expected to contribute to its
    timely delivery by addressing current implementation challenges.
    The arrangements proposed by Czechia in the initial RRP were considered the minimum (rating
    B) necessary to ensure effective monitoring and implementation of the RRP and complemented
    by reinforcing measures to address remaining weaknesses regarding the prevention, detection and
    correction of conflicts of interest through a set of dedicated milestones to be fulfilled before the
    first payment request. All these milestones were subsequently fulfilled and positively assessed by
    the Commission as part of the first payment request, as reflected in COM(2023)1792 (see section
    3.9 on audit and control below for a more detailed analysis).
    The introduction of dedicated support measures to strengthen the administrative capacity and, in
    particular, the staffing of the authorities responsible for implementing the RRF (from 217 to 470
    by the end of 2024) under the new Component 4.1 ‘Systemic support for public investment’ is
    expected to improve the effective monitoring and implementation of the RRP.
    ***
    For all these reasons, the arrangements proposed by Czechia in its modified recovery and
    resilience plan are expected to be adequate to ensure effective monitoring and implementation of
    the recovery and resilience plan, including the envisaged timetable, milestones and targets, and
    40
    the related indicators. This would warrant a rating of A under the assessment criterion 2.8 of
    Annex V to the RRF Regulation.
    3.9. Costing
    Czechia has provided individual cost estimates for all investments and reforms included in the
    recovery and resilience plan for which funding through the facility is requested. Overall, for the
    new or modified measures, Czechia has submitted sufficient evidence and explanations for the cost
    estimates to be considered reasonable and plausible and information regarding the additionally
    with other Union funds has also been provided. The costs can be considered commensurate and in
    line with the principle of cost efficiency.
    Reasonable costs
    Based on the assessment of individual cost estimates and related supporting documents, the cost
    estimates for most of the measures in the plan are deemed reasonable. Measures representing a
    significant majority of the plan are rated as “reasonable” to a “high” or “medium” extent. For the
    majority of the new of measures included in the plan, Czechia provided sufficient information and
    evidence on costs, based on the template tables, backed up by descriptions of the methodology
    used, the cost calculations as well as the budgetary implications of the measure. For the modified
    measures where the revision had an implication regarding costs, Czechia provided sufficient
    information and evidence of the impact of the changes on the costs allocated, including
    adjustments of the unit costs due the effect of the high inflation or based on more recent costs
    resulting from completed tenders or responses from market actors.
    The reforms and investments included in the plan comply with the eligibility criteria set out in the
    Regulation. Based on the information provided by the authorities, costs supported under the RRF
    are incurred only for reforms and investments implemented after 1 February 2020 or 1 February
    2022 for REPowerEU chapter measures, exclude value-added tax (VAT), and do not substitute
    recurring national budgetary expenditure. Costs that could have a recurring nature are included in
    the plan only to a limited extent and for duly justified exceptions, in accordance with Article 5(a)
    of the Regulation. For instance, salaries are only supported by the plan if they are of temporary
    nature and inherently and directly linked to the outcome of the measure (e.g., salaries of trainers
    for the implementation of upskilling programmes, salaries of researchers involved in R&D
    projects). The new component 4.1 (Systemic support for public investments) has been added in
    order to centralize all administrative costs related to RRF projects implementation and assure a
    legal structure of temporary nature covering eventual employees costs needed for implementation
    of these projects. Some of the measures explicitly provide reassurance for compliance with the
    eligibility criteria, while for the rest there is no indication that the costs incurred may be
    incompatible with the eligibility criteria of the RRF.
    The costs in the Czech recovery and resilience plan have been estimated based on several
    methodologies. For the newly introduced measures, the costs have been calculated using bottom-
    up approaches, with reference to market prices or prices of similar units in past investments for
    the key cost drivers, or from cost estimates derived from the costing data of similar investments
    41
    carried out in Czechia or in other Member States. For the updated measures where the revision had
    an implication regarding costs, the update is either based on adjustments of the unit costs due the
    effect of the high inflation in the sector, or on the results of tenders conducted for current similar
    projects or even of the results of the tenders for the exact same project where its implementation
    has already started. For demand-driven schemes, where final recipients must submit applications
    for intended projects, ex-ante cost estimations are less precise than in the case of measures, where
    the type and nature of projects is clearly defined upfront. For the former, the authorities have
    provided a target in terms of recipients and the overall amount to be spent, often supported by
    evidence that the costs of the measure are in line with the investment absorption capacity of the
    sector. The Czech authorities did not provide an independent validation for any of the cost
    estimates proposed.
    Most of the cost estimates rely on an understandable methodology, which is based on underlying
    assumptions. For some measures, however, the methodology is not sufficiently substantiated and
    the link between the justification and the estimated costs is not clear enough to deem the costs
    reasonable. Furthermore, for several measures, it cannot be fully guaranteed that the comparability
    with past projects is fully assured and that the assumptions and adjustments are appropriate. This
    aspect and the lacking validation of the cost estimates by an independent public body are the main
    reasons preventing the plan from receiving a high rating on reasonability.
    Plausible costs
    Based on the assessment of individual cost estimates and related supporting documents, most of
    the measures in the Czech plan are deemed plausible at least to a medium extent. Measures
    representing a significant majority of the plan are rated as “plausible” to a “high” or “medium”
    extent. For most of the new measures added to the plan, the Czech authorities have provided
    reference costs including historical or comparative data for the cost drivers, for example results of
    previous investments or tenders. For the updated measures where the revision had an implication
    regarding costs, the update is plausible when considering the high inflation in the sector, or
    considering the results of tenders conducted for similar projects or the project itself in case where
    the tendering has already started.
    In some cases, adjustments to comparative costs have been made, ensuring the comparability of
    the projects financed under the RRF with past projects. Nevertheless, the exact comparability of
    these projects cannot be established in all instances, in particular, for the case of demand-driven
    schemes. Whilst factoring in the limitations of ex-ante costing approaches, the lack of complete
    comparability is the major a reason preventing the plan from receiving a high rating on plausibility.
    No double Union financing
    For the majority of measures in the plan, the Czech authorities have provided additional
    information on whether the measure or similar measures receive funding from other EU sources.
    For the very limited number of measure where other EU financing is envisaged, the name of the
    programme and information on the amounts covered has been provided. In many cases, the exact
    same measure is not covered by other EU funds, but other EU funds provide financing for similar
    measures or areas of intervention. In these cases, the authorities have provided explanation about
    42
    the complementarity of the projects and information on the delineation was provided, based on
    differences in the timing of the funding or the nature of the intervention.
    Commensurate and cost-efficient costs
    The amount of the estimated total costs of the plan is commensurate to the expected social and
    economic impact of the funded measures and in line with the principle of cost-efficiency. The
    modified plan is further increasing the ambition of the initial plan to address a significant subset
    of challenges identified in the country-specific recommendations (CSRs), previous Semester
    country reports, as well as recommendations monitored through the Social Scoreboard (see Annex
    14 of the 2023 Country report - Czechia3
    ). The plan contains several measures that aim to foster
    economic growth and economic cohesion in an inclusive manner. It is addressing weaknesses of
    the Czech economy, boosting the growth potential, stimulating job creation, and mitigating the
    adverse effects of the crisis. This is visible in measures that sustain the acceleration of digitalisation
    of the public administration and thus addressing an important investment barrier, measures related
    to the green transition, which provide a new source of economic growth while allowing phasing
    out polluting industries, or measures to support the financing of SMEs, research and development,
    and highly innovative projects. The newly added REPowerEU chapter aims to significantly boost
    the capacity of the economy to withstand an energy crisis thus further accelerating the green
    transition. Moreover, the plan contains measures that aim to strengthen social cohesion, including
    policies aiming at the integration of the most vulnerable groups in the labour market. This is visible
    in measures destined at upskilling and reskilling the workforce, and measures to improve the
    participation of women into the labour force. As a result, even though the plausibility and
    reasonability of the cost estimates can only be considered medium, the positive expected impact
    of the plan on the Czech economy and society warrants a high rating in terms of commensurability
    and cost efficiency.
    The justification provided by Czechia on the amount of the estimated total costs of the recovery
    and resilience plan is to a medium extent reasonable and plausible, it is in line with the principle
    of cost-efficiency and commensurate to the expected national economic and social impact.
    ***
    The nature and extent of the proposed modifications to Czechia’s recovery and resilience plan do
    not have a material impact on the previous assessment (rating of B) of the reasonability and
    plausibility of the costs, their additionality, and that they are in line with the principle of cost
    efficiency and commensurate to the expected social and economic impact of the modified plan, as
    reflected in the SWD(2021) 211 final.
    3.10. Controls and audit
    The internal control system described in the initial RRP remains in force and applies to all
    measures, regardless of the source of funding. The outline of the internal control system has a clear
    3
    https://economy-finance.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2023-05/CZ_SWD_2023_603_en.pdf
    43
    structure. Control actors are identified across all levels and the national set-up for the RRF internal
    control system consists of two levels:
    a. Management verifications carried out by the implementing bodies and coordinating
    body; and
    b. Audits carried out by the national audit body.
    The Managing Council of the national recovery and resilience plan is the highest decision-making
    and approval body with the responsibility for the overall coordination and monitoring of the Plan.
    Payment requests have to be approved by this committee. The Ministry of Industry and Trade, as
    the central coordinating body for the RRF and its implementation, is responsible for the
    coordination, monitoring and reporting of the Plan and is the main point of contact for the
    Commission. This body is also responsible for the preparation of payment requests and
    management declarations.
    The main responsibility for the first level of the control system lies with the implementing bodies.
    Implementing bodies are responsible for (i) the overall management of the particular component;
    (ii) verification of the compliance of implemented measures with applicable Union and national
    law; and (iii) verification of the progress in achievement of defined milestones and targets.
    The second level of the control system is entrusted to the audit body – Department 52 – at the
    Ministry of Finance. The audit body is functionally and organizationally independent from the
    Coordinating body and the Implementing bodies. The audit body verifies whether (i) the Plan is
    implemented in compliance with applicable Union and national law; (ii) internal control systems
    provide adequate assurance that defined milestones and targets have been achieved; and (iii)
    mechanisms to prevent, detect and correct serious irregularities and avoid double funding are
    working efficiently. The audit approach includes (i) system audits to provide reasonable assurance
    that the system functions effectively and prevents, detects and corrects irregularities; and (ii)
    substantive testing to verify that defined milestones and targets have been achieved at the project
    level. A specific audit and control milestone on RRP audit strategy (M211) was assessed as
    satisfactorily fulfilled under the first request for payment submitted by Czechia, as reflected in
    COM(2023)1792.
    Adequacy of control systems and other relevant arrangements
    Concerning the prevention and detection of serious irregularities, the Plan provides a general
    description of the national procedures and measures. The regular risk analysis (including fraud risk
    analysis) shall be carried out by the coordinating body and component owners on annual basis.
    Moreover, all bodies involved in the implementation of the Plan follow national anti-corruption
    strategy. The initial Plan also clarifies that the data mining and risk scoring tool Arachne shall be
    used for the verification of the absence of conflict of interest, fraud, corruption and, where relevant,
    double funding.
    Czechia’s initial RRP includes eight milestones on audit and control, which were assessed as
    satisfactorily fulfilled as part of the first payment request, as reflected in COM(2023)1792.
    44
    The initial Plan provides that that implementing bodies are responsible for the collection and
    storage of data on final recipients, contractors, sub-contractors and beneficial owners in line with
    requirements of Article 22(2), point (d) of the RRF Regulation. For this purpose, milestone M207
    on the system to collect, store and make available data in relation to all final recipients including
    all beneficial owners; and milestone M210 on repository system were assessed by Commission
    services as satisfactorily fulfilled. Furthermore, the repository system was audited by the
    Commission audit No. CZ-Q3 2022-PFIU on protection of the financial interests of the Union
    carried out in September 2022. The repository system of RRP implementation is decentralized and
    there are several IT systems used by the implementing bodies in which the data are collected and
    stored. This data is later uploaded to the umbrella repository system (AIS) upon preparation of the
    payment request to the Commission.
    An assurance that the application of beneficial ownership in the context of the RRF internal control
    system and the procedure describing the collection and storage of this data are fully aligned with
    the definition of ‘beneficial owners’ as defined by Article 3, point 6 of Directive 2015/849 was
    obtained through the milestone M212 on the compliance review, which was assessed by the
    Commission services as satisfactorily fulfilled under the first payment request.
    As per Article 22(2), point (b) of the RRF Regulation the Member States shall take appropriate
    measures to prevent, detect and correct conflict of interests as defined in Article 61 of the Financial
    Regulation. For this purpose, as part of milestone M213, a Guidance on the avoidance and
    management of conflict of interests and Red Flags Methodological Guidance for the implementing
    bodies and other bodies implementing reforms and investments were issued by the coordinating
    body. Furthermore, the milestone M208 ensured a creation and implementation of an action plan
    on the administrative system of the coordinating body, in particular, as regards sufficient and
    systemic prevention of the conflict of interest in the context of the RRF. A follow-up audit was
    carried out by the audit body confirming the implementation of the action plan (the report by the
    audit body issued on 13 October 2022), satisfactorily fulfilling the milestone M209.
    Adequacy of arrangements to avoid double EU funding
    The Czech authorities recognize that there are risks in respect of funding from several EU and
    national sources. The Czech authorities use the following mechanisms and tools to address double
    funding: (i) ex-ante trainings and guidance provided to the final recipients; (ii) systematic
    segregation of funds; (iii) double funding verification before the Grant agreement is concluded;
    (iv) declarations of honour; and (v) use of various European and national registers. The fact that
    the Implementing bodies for RRF are also involved in the implementation of ESI Funds gives
    prerequisite for cross-checking the data with traditional ESI Funds management systems and avoid
    double funding. Following the submission of the revised RRP, Czechia provided further
    information on complementarity of funding and measures to avoid double funding for the RRP
    including the REPowerEU chapter.
    Legal empowerment and administrative capacity of control function
    The legal mandate of the bodies involved in the implementation of the Plan, the description of
    their tasks and responsibilities was adopted in the Government resolution No 467 on 17 May 2021.
    45
    The implementing bodies are defined in the initial Plan. The coordinating body is responsible for
    the preparation and submission of the payment requests. The Managing Council is responsible for
    the approval of requests for payment. The audit body is responsible for the drawing up of the
    summary of audits, which is signed by the head of the audit body. The administrative capacities
    of the coordinating body, implementing bodies and audit body is expected to increase from current
    240 FTE to total 470 FTE by the end of 2024 as part of the newly added Component 4.1 ‘Systemic
    support for public investment’.
    ***
    The arrangements proposed by Czechia in the modified recovery and resilience plan to prevent,
    detect and correct corruption, fraud and conflicts of interest when using the funds provided under
    the Facility, including the arrangements aimed to avoid double funding from the Facility and other
    Union programmes, are assessed to be adequate. This would warrant a rating of A under the
    assessment criterion 2.10 of Annex V to the RRF Regulation.
    4. COHERENCE
    The modified RRP presented by Czechia is structured in 37 coherent components, that support the
    objective of stimulating the economy and mitigating the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19
    pandemic, which has been further aggravated by high inflation, energy crisis and Russia’s war of
    aggression against Ukraine. On the top of the original 26 components, Czechia proposes 11 new
    components, out of which seven represent the REPowerEU chapter. These components show
    synergies with the rest of the plan, in particular, those related to the green transition.
    Mutually reinforcing measures
    The modifications to the RRP do not negatively alter the components’ coherence, nor the
    coherence of the plan as a whole. They do not alter the way they are mutually-reinforcing. The
    additional REPowerEU chapter is fully in line with the measures deployed under the initial RRP
    to support the green transition and further increases their ambition.
    The REPowerEU chapter is built around a consistent package of both reforms and investments that
    are mutually reinforcing to support the modernisation of electricity grid, the generation of
    renewable energy, the promotion of energy efficiency renovations, the promotion of clean
    mobility, and the development of green skills. The reforms are expected to reinforce the
    investments in the REPowerEU chapter, but they also support the implementation of measures set
    in the original plan.
    Moreover, the new and updated components on efficiency of public administration and systemic
    support to public investment reinforce the implementation capacity and project preparation of
    investments and reforms included in the RRP.
    46
    Complementarity of measures
    The modifications made to the existing 26 components of the RRP do not negatively alter the
    complementarity of these components. The new and updated components complement each other
    and the original ambition of the plan. Notably, the new component on the digital transformation
    of public administration expands the efforts of the RRP to digitalise public administration and the
    new component on competitive research and development ecosystem complements the research
    measures embedded in the plan.
    Lastly, the REPowerEU reforms and investments complement the efforts of the RRP on green
    transition, especially in renewable deployment and distribution electricity networks. Yet the the
    complementarity effect of measures remained limited in other parts of the plan such as the energy
    efficiency renovations and electrification of rail. Further actions in these fields have been
    identified, which would have complemented and further reinforced the existing measures
    supporting the green transition in the RRP. Czechia decided to finance such measures from
    different sources, therefore they could not have been taken into account for the assessment of the
    RRP.
    The plan does not present inconsistencies or contradictions between the different components. In
    order to promote wider coherence across instruments, notably with the European cohesion policy
    funds, a balanced territorial allocation of resources is encouraged.
    The nature and extent of the proposed modifications to Czechia’s recovery and resilience plan do
    not have a material impact on the previous assessment (rating of B) of the coherence of the actions
    proposed by Czechia, as reflected in the previous SWD [2021 211 FINAL].
    4.1. REPowerEU
    The implementation of the measures included in the five thematic areas (Investments in grid
    modernisation and digitalisation; Renewable energy generation; Energy efficiency; Clean
    mobility; Promoting green skills and sustainability in universities) of the Czech REPowerEU
    chapter is expected to contribute directly to supporting the objectives in Article 21c(3) of
    Regulation (EU) 2021/241. In terms of the expected impact, the proposed measures will help
    reduce the reliance on fossil fuels and will contribute to the overall energy security and
    diversification of the Union’s energy supply.
    The new investment in modernisation of distribution systems aims to secure the technical grid
    capacities for the connection of new renewable energy sources, contributing to address energy
    distribution bottlenecks (Article 21c(3), point (e)). It is accompanied by several reforms addressing
    permitting barriers that will directly respond to this objective: the reform on improving the
    transparency and availability of grid connection, the reform of grid tariffs and the reform
    connection procedures will accelerate the grid connection process.
    The reforms and investments foreseen as part of components 7.1 (Strengthening distribution
    networks) and 7.2 (Decentralisation and digitalisation of energy) will contribute notably to the
    47
    REPowerEU objective described under Article 21c(3), point (b)): the simplification of permit
    granting procedures for renewable energy sources and the designation of renewable acceleration
    areas, as well as the implementation of single environmental opinion will increase the share and
    accelerate the deployment of renewable energy in Czechia. The adoption of regulatory
    frameworks for new activities such as energy communities, storage, flexibility assets and active
    customers will contribute to the decentralisation and greening of the Czech energy system, in line
    with the objectives defined in Article 21c(3), point (b).
    The investments in the construction of photovoltaic sources and the electricity data centre will also
    contribute lowering Czechia’s dependency on fossil fuel imports. All these measures are expected
    to have a long-lasting impact. The reform and two investments in green skills and sustainability
    programmes in universities aim at modernising the learning offer of public universities by creating
    new study programmes, new courses in existing programmes, and new lifelong learning courses,
    all focusing on green skills, in line with the objectives defined in Article 21c(3), point (f).
    The REPowerEU chapter addresses energy poverty and energy efficiency through the extensive
    reform of the advisory services for the renovation wave which aims to increase the number and
    quality of residential renovation projects. The improved advisory services will help households
    prepare their renovation projects and apply for available funding to implement the projects.
    The measures on decarbonising transport primarily tackle issues with deployment of zero-emission
    road transport and infrastructure in Czechia, thus contributing towards the decreased use of fossil
    fuels in the sector. The road transport reforms namely include the revision of Czechia’s Clean
    Mobility Action Plan and its implementation through a target for the deployment of new zero-
    emission vehicles (ZEVs), tax measures to incentivise the uptake of ZEVs by companies, changes
    of highway vignette fees to incentives ZEVs over conventional vehicles, and easier permitting
    rules for construction of charging stations and hydrogen refuelling stations The reforms are
    accompanied by a scale up of existing investment component 2.4 in deployment of zero-emission
    cars, vans, and cargo e-bikes for companies. The REPowerEU chapter also addresses the objective
    of electrifying of rail infrastructure, namely by including an investment in electrifying line Brno-
    Zastávka u Brna.
    During the preparation of the modified RRP including the REPowerEU chapter, Czechia benefited
    from support through Regulation (EU) 2021/240 of the European Parliament and the Council of
    10 February 2021 establishing a Technical Support Instrument (‘Support to REPowerEU’).
    Stakeholders were involved in the preparation of the report between July 2022 and February 2023,
    which provided input for the design of the measures under the REPowerEU chapter. In November
    2022, the Government adopted Resolution No. 924, on the revision of the RRP, including the
    inclusion of the REPowerEU chapter. The consultation on the initial intentions of the REPowerEU
    chapter was initiated at the meeting of the Committee for RRP in December 2022. Subsequently,
    the component owners elaborated the reforms and investments in the REPowerEU chapter and
    continued consultations with key national stakeholders in early 2023. Reforms and investments
    included in the REPowerEU chapter were discussed with economic, social and territorial partners
    at the meetings of the Committee for RRP in March and May 2023. Formal consultation on the
    REPowerEU chapter took place during a week-long inter-ministerial consultation in May 2023,
    48
    when government authorities, economic, social and non-governmental partners (such as the
    Confederation of Industry, the Chamber of Commerce, the Czech Banking Association, the
    Confederation of Employers’ and Entrepreneurs’ Associations, the Association of Independent
    Trade Unions and the Green Circle) had the opportunity to comment on the revised proposals. The
    REPowerEU chapter includes an overview of the consultations with national stakeholders. It
    provides a timeline of the consultation process and some information on the results and how
    contributions were taken into account.
    The REPowerEU chapter is expected to have a lasting impact by accelerating the green transition
    and decreasing the dependence on fossil fuels (including sizeable imports from Russia), as well as
    by boosting growth and jobs. The implementation of reforms and investments is expected to
    deliver particular benefits through accelerating the rollout of renewable energy in Czechia,
    increasing the renewable energy capacity and including sizeable investments into the electricity,
    improving the energy efficiency of buildings, boosting the deployment of sustainable modes of
    transport and laying regulatory groundwork for uptake of more zero-emission vehicles in this
    decade.
    In terms of the overall consistency and complementarity with other policy instruments, the new
    measures under the REPowerEU chapter were prepared in parallel with the update of the Czech
    National Energy and Climate Plan 2021-2030 and the measures included in both documents are
    complementary. Additionally, the plan, including all new reforms and investments, is compatible
    with the Modernisation Fund and the Partnership Agreement of Czechia for the programming
    period 2021-2027, which defines the procedures for ensuring the complementarities between
    Czech support instruments financed from the RRF and the ESIF.
    ***
    Taking into consideration the assessment of all the measures envisaged in the REPowerEU
    chapter, the chapter is expected, to a large extent, to contribute effectively to energy security, the
    diversification of the Union’s energy supply, an increase in the uptake of renewables and in energy
    efficiency, an increase of energy storage capacities or the necessary reduction of dependence on
    fossil fuels before 2030. This would warrant a rating of A under criterion 2.12 of Annex V to the
    RRF Regulation.
    4.2. Cross-border or multi-country dimension or effect
    Most measures included in Czechia’s REPowerEU chapter have a multi-country or cross-border
    dimension. The total allocation for cross-border investments amounts to EUR 605.8 million,
    corresponding to 82.4% of the estimated cost of the REPowerEU chapter.
    The measures with the biggest contribution to the target are the investments in modernisation and
    reinforcement of electricity distribution systems, the provision of renovation advisory services,
    and the scale up measure on construction of photovoltaics sources. These measures have a cross-
    border effect as they will contribute to both the deployment and integration of renewable energy
    sources into the electricity network.
    49
    The implementation of the reform of the advisory services on energy renovations is expected to
    reduce Czechia electricity demand and the reliance on fossil fuels.
    ***
    Taking into consideration the assessment of all the measures envisaged in the REPowerEU
    chapter, the measures in the chapter are expected, to a large extent, to have a cross-border or
    multi-country dimension or effect. This would warrant a rating of A under criterion 2.13 of Annex
    V to the RRF Regulation.
    REPowerEU measure
    Costs
    (EUR
    million)
    Contributi
    on to the
    target in %
    33 - 7.1 Strengthening distribution networks and increasing their
    connectable power - 7.1.3 Construction, strengthening,
    reconstruction and modernization of distribution systems
    282.0 52.31%
    33 - 7.1 Strengthening distribution networks and increasing their
    connectable power - 7.1.4 Development of new photovoltaic energy
    sources
    108.6 20.1%
    34 - 7.2 Supporting decentralisation and digitalisation of the energy
    sector – 7.2.2 Energy data center
    33.7 6.2%
    35 - 7.3 Energy consulting - 7.3.1 Comprehensive reform of
    consultancy for the renovation wave in the Czech Republic
    168.5 31.2%
    42 - 7.7 Simplifying decision-making processes and defining areas
    for the development of renewable energy sources - 7.8.1
    Implementation of the Single Environmental Opinion
    5.5 1.%
    42 - 7.7 Simplifying decision-making processes and defining areas
    for the development of renewable energy sources - 7.8.2 Defining
    renewables acceleration areas
    7.6 1.4%
    Total 605.8 82.4%
    50
    ANNEX I: CLIMATE TRACKING AND DIGITAL TAGGING
    Climate Digital
    Measure
    / Sub-
    Measure
    ID
    Measure/Sub-Measure Name
    Budg
    et
    (EUR
    m)
    Int.
    Field
    Coeff.
    %
    Int.
    Field
    Coeff
    . %
    1.1.1
    1.1 Digital services to citizens and
    businesses - 1.1.1 Digital services
    for end-users
    40.0 011 100%
    1.1.2
    1.1 Digital services to citizens and
    businesses - 1.1.2 Development of
    open data and public data fund
    6.4 011 100%
    1.1.3
    1.1 Digital services to citizens and
    businesses - 1.1.3 Conditions for
    quality data pool management and
    ensuring controlled data access
    2.5 011 100%
    1.1.4
    1.1 Digital services to citizens and
    businesses - 1.1.4 eHealth services
    55.9 013 100%
    1.1.5
    1.1 Digital services to citizens and
    businesses - 1.1.5 Digital services
    for justice
    7.4
    011quat
    er
    100%
    1.1.6
    1 - 1.1 Digital services to citizen and
    businesses - 1.1.6 Digital services
    for end-users in social area
    14.7 011 100%
    1.2.1
    1.2 Digital public administration
    systems - 1.2.1 Developing and
    improving individual information
    systems
    36.6 011 100%
    1.2.2
    1.2 Digital public administration
    systems - 1.2.2 Developing of core
    registers and facilities for
    eGovernment
    101.5 011 100%
    1.2.3.1
    1.2 Digital public administration
    systems - 1.2.3.1 Cybersecurity
    169.4
    021qui
    nquies
    100%
    1.2.3.2
    1.2 Digital public administration
    systems – 1.2.3.2 Cybersecurity
    278
    021qui
    nquies
    100%
    1.2.4
    1.2 Digital public administration
    systems - 1.2.4 Centers of
    competence for supporting
    eGovernment, Cybersecurity and
    eHealth
    14.3 013 100%
    1.2.5
    1.2 Digital public administration
    systems - 1.2.5 Developing systems
    12.8 095 100%
    51
    Climate Digital
    Measure
    / Sub-
    Measure
    ID
    Measure/Sub-Measure Name
    Budg
    et
    (EUR
    m)
    Int.
    Field
    Coeff.
    %
    Int.
    Field
    Coeff
    . %
    supporting the digitalisation of
    health
    1.2.6
    1.2 Digital public administration
    systems - 1.2.6 Creating the
    conditions for digital justice
    6.1
    011quat
    er
    100%
    1.2.7
    1.2 Digital public administration
    systems - 1.2.7 Development of
    information systems in social area
    44.3 011 100%
    1.3.1
    1.3 High capacity digital networks -
    1.3.1 Improving the environment for
    the deployment of electronic
    communication networks
    79.4 053 100%
    1.3.2
    1.3 High capacity digital networks -
    1.3.2 Supporting the development of
    the 5G ecosystem
    1.5 054 100%
    1.3.3
    1.3 High capacity digital networks -
    1.3.3 Building high-capacity
    connections
    146 053 100%
    1.3.4
    1.3 High capacity digital networks -
    1.3.4 Covering 5G corridors and
    promoting the development of 5G
    33.9 054bis 100%
    1.3.5
    1.3 High capacity digital networks -
    1.3.5 Supporting the development of
    5G mobile infrastructure in rural
    investment-intensive white areas
    12.6 054bis 100%
    1.3.6
    1.3 High capacity digital networks -
    1.3.6 Scientific research activities
    related to the development of 5G
    networks and services
    13.6 054bis 100%
    1.4.1.2
    1.4 Digital economy and society,
    innovative start-ups and new
    technologies - 1.4.1.2 European
    Digital Media Observatory Hub
    (EDMO)
    9.2 021ter 100%
    1.4.1.5
    1.4 Digital economy and society,
    innovative start-ups and new
    technologies - 1.4.1.5 European
    Blockchain Services Infrastructure
    8.4 010 100%
    52
    Climate Digital
    Measure
    / Sub-
    Measure
    ID
    Measure/Sub-Measure Name
    Budg
    et
    (EUR
    m)
    Int.
    Field
    Coeff.
    %
    Int.
    Field
    Coeff
    . %
    (EBSI) – DLT bonds for SME
    financing
    1.4.1.6
    1.4 Digital economy and society,
    innovative start-ups and new
    technologies - 1.4.1.6 5G
    Demonstrative application projects
    for cities and industrial areas
    45.3 010bis 100%
    1.4.2.1
    1.4 Digital economy and society,
    innovative start-ups and new
    technologies - 1.4.2.1 Czech Rise-
    Up programme
    2.5 010 100%
    1.4.2.2
    1.4 Digital economy and society,
    innovative start-ups and new
    technologies - 1.4.2.2 Fostering
    entrepreneurship and innovative
    firms
    5.9 018 40%
    1.4.2.3.1
    1.4 Digital economy and society,
    innovative start-ups and new
    technologies - 1.4.2.3.1 Pilot co-
    investment funds for the
    development of pre-seed
    investments, strategic technologies
    and university spin-offs within the
    framework of European Centres of
    Excellence
    55 010 100%
    1.4.2.4
    1.4 Digital economy and society,
    innovative start-ups and new
    technologies - 1.4.2.4
    Internationalisation of start-ups
    8.4 015 40%
    1.4.2.5
    1.4 Digital economy and society,
    innovative start-ups and new
    technologies - 1.4.2.5 Regulatory
    sandboxes in line with EU priorities
    5.9 010 100%
    1.4.3
    1.4 Digital economy and society,
    innovative start-ups and new
    technologies - 1.4.3 Joint Strategic
    Technologies Support and
    Certification Group with the
    Strategic Technologies Board
    4.3 009bis 100%
    53
    Climate Digital
    Measure
    / Sub-
    Measure
    ID
    Measure/Sub-Measure Name
    Budg
    et
    (EUR
    m)
    Int.
    Field
    Coeff.
    %
    Int.
    Field
    Coeff
    . %
    1.4.3.1
    1.4 Digital economy and society,
    innovative start-ups and new
    technologies - 1.4.3.1 Building
    quantum communication
    infrastructure
    7.1
    021quat
    er
    100%
    1.5.1.1
    1.5 Digital transformation of
    enterprises - 1.5.1.1 European and
    national Digital Innovation Hubs
    8.7 010 100%
    1.5.1.2
    1.5 Digital transformation of
    enterprises - 1.5.1.2 European
    Reference Testing and
    Experimentation facility
    5.7 010bis 100%
    1.5.1.3
    1.5 Digital transformation of
    enterprises - 1.5.1.3 Digital
    transformation of manufacturing and
    non-production companies and
    increase of their resilience
    82.5 010 100%
    1.5.1.4
    1.5 Digital transformation of
    enterprises - 1.5.1.4 IPCEI
    Microelectronics and
    Communication Technologies
    46.5
    021quat
    er
    100%
    1.6.1
    1.6 Acceleration and digitalisation
    of the building process - 1.6.1
    Implementation of the new Building
    Act into practice
    36.0 055 100%
    1.6.2
    1.6 Acceleration and digitalisation
    of the building process - 1.6.2
    Creation of a new central
    information system (“AIS”)
    13.0 011 100%
    1.6.3
    1.6 Acceleration and digitalisation
    of the building process - 1.6.3
    Development and use of public
    administration data in spatial
    planning
    1.4 055 100%
    1.6.4
    1.6 Acceleration and digitalisation
    of the building process - 1.6.4
    Reaping the Full Benefits of
    Digitising Building Control
    6.5 055 100%
    54
    Climate Digital
    Measure
    / Sub-
    Measure
    ID
    Measure/Sub-Measure Name
    Budg
    et
    (EUR
    m)
    Int.
    Field
    Coeff.
    %
    Int.
    Field
    Coeff
    . %
    1.7.1
    1.7 Digital Transformation of Public
    Administration - 1.7.1 Unification of
    visual identity and internet domains
    of central authorities and state
    administration information systems
    and platform of training
    2.8 011 100%
    1.7.2
    1.7 Digital Transformation of Public
    Administration - 1.7.2 Reducing
    gaps that obstruct the optimisation,
    implementation and management of
    digitisation projects
    19.9 011 100%
    1.7.3
    1.7 Digital Transformation of Public
    Administration - 1.7.3 Public
    Administration Contact Centre
    14.4 011 100%
    1.7.4
    1.7 Digital Transformation of Public
    Administration - 1.7.4 Establishing
    the central infrastructure for working
    with data
    7.6 011 100%
    2.1.1
    2.1 Sustainable transport - 2.1.1 New
    technologies and digitisation on
    railway infrastructure
    37.5 070 40% 070 100%
    2.1.2
    2.1 Sustainable transport - 2.1.2
    Electrification of railways
    263.8
    066bi
    s
    100%
    2.1.3
    2.1 Sustainable transport - 2.1.3
    Improving the environment (railway
    infrastructure support)
    453.7 069 40%
    2.1.4.1
    2.1 Sustainable transport - 2.1.4.1
    Increasing safety at railway
    crossings
    120.3 069 40%
    2.1.4.2
    2.1 Sustainable transport - 2.1.4.2
    Construction objects
    43.8 069 40%
    2.1.4.3
    2.1 Sustainable transport - 2.1.4.3
    Protection of vulnerable road users
    (cyclists, pedestrians)
    23.6 075 100%
    2.2.1
    2.2 Reducing energy consumption in
    the public sector - 2.2.1 Improving
    the energy performance of state
    buildings
    121.9
    026bi
    s
    100%
    55
    Climate Digital
    Measure
    / Sub-
    Measure
    ID
    Measure/Sub-Measure Name
    Budg
    et
    (EUR
    m)
    Int.
    Field
    Coeff.
    %
    Int.
    Field
    Coeff
    . %
    2.2.2
    2.2 Reducing energy consumption in
    the public sector - 2.2.2 Improving
    the energy performance of public
    lighting systems
    87.9
    026bi
    s
    100%
    2.2.3
    2.2 Reducing energy consumption in
    the public sector - 2.2.3 Improving
    the energy performance of public
    buildings
    201.5
    026bi
    s
    100%
    2.3.1
    2.3 Transition to cleaner energy
    sources - 2.3.1 Development of new
    photovoltaic energy sources
    196.4 029 100%
    2.3.2
    2.3 Transition to cleaner energy
    sources - 2.3.2 Modernisation of
    distribution of heat in district heating
    systems
    65.2
    034bi
    s0
    100%
    2.4.1.1
    2.4 Clean mobility - 2.4.1.1 Building
    infrastructure for public transport in
    the city of Prague
    47.1 073 100%
    2.4.1.2
    2.4 Clean mobility - 2.4.1.2 Building
    infrastructure – Recharging points
    for private companies
    11.8 077 100%
    2.4.1.3
    2.4 Clean mobility - 2.4.1.3 Building
    infrastructure – Recharging points
    for residential buildings
    5.7 077 100%
    2.4.2.1
    2.4 Clean mobility - 2.4.2.1 Aid for
    purchase of vehicles – vehicles
    (electric, H2, bikes) for private
    companies
    39.6 N/A4
    100%
    4
    The ‘Methodology for climate tracking’ annexed to the Recovery and Resilience Facility Regulation does not set out
    intervention fields that would allow for climate or environmental tracking of electric vehicles or plug-in hybrid
    vehicles, except for vehicles for urban transport falling under intervention field 074. According to Article 18(4)(e) of
    the Regulation, the methodology should however ‘be used accordingly for measures that cannot be directly assigned
    to an intervention field listed in Annex VI’. In this context, the Commission has applied a 100% climate contribution
    coefficient for zero-emission vehicles of all categories (this includes battery electric and fuel cell/hydrogen-powered
    vehicles); a 40% climate contribution coefficient for plug-in hybrid light-duty vehicles; and, in line with the criteria
    under the Taxonomy Regulation, a 100% climate coefficient for low-emission heavy-duty vehicles.
    56
    Climate Digital
    Measure
    / Sub-
    Measure
    ID
    Measure/Sub-Measure Name
    Budg
    et
    (EUR
    m)
    Int.
    Field
    Coeff.
    %
    Int.
    Field
    Coeff
    . %
    2.4.2.2
    2.4 Clean mobility - 2.4.2.2 Aid for
    purchase of vehicles (electric, H2)
    and infrastructure for municipalities,
    regions, state administration and
    other public entities
    23.6 N/A5
    100%
    2.4.2.3
    2.4 Clean mobility - 2.4.2.3 Aid for
    purchase of vehicles (battery
    trolleybuses and low-floor
    tramways) for public transport in the
    city of Prague
    66.8 074 100%
    2.5.1
    2.5 Building renovation and air
    protection - 2.5.1 Renovation and
    revitalisation of buildings for energy
    savings
    141.1
    025bi
    s
    100%
    2.5.2
    2.5 Building renovation and air
    protection - 2.5.2 Support exchanges
    of non-compliant heat generators
    and installing renewable energy
    sources
    602.2 032 100%
    2.6.1
    2.6 Nature protection and adaptation
    to climate change - 2.6.1 Flood
    protection
    72.3 040 40%
    2.6.2
    2.6 Nature protection and adaptation
    to climate change - 2.6.2 Small
    watercourses and water reservoirs
    62.8 040 40%
    2.6.4
    2.6 Nature protection and adaptation
    to climate change - 2.6.4 Land
    consolidation
    32.5 050 40%
    2.6.5
    2.6 Nature protection and adaptation
    to climate change - 2.6.5 Building
    forests resilient to climate change
    335.4 037 100%
    5
    The ‘Methodology for climate tracking’ annexed to the Recovery and Resilience Facility Regulation does not set out
    intervention fields that would allow for climate or environmental tracking of electric vehicles or plug-in hybrid
    vehicles, except for vehicles for urban transport falling under intervention field 074. According to Article 18(4)(e) of
    the Regulation, the methodology should however ‘be used accordingly for measures that cannot be directly assigned
    to an intervention field listed in Annex VI’. In this context, the Commission has applied a 100% climate contribution
    coefficient for zero-emission vehicles of all categories (this includes battery electric and fuel cell/hydrogen-powered
    vehicles); a 40% climate contribution coefficient for plug-in hybrid light-duty vehicles; and, in line with the criteria
    under the Taxonomy Regulation, a 100% climate coefficient for low-emission heavy-duty vehicles.
    57
    Climate Digital
    Measure
    / Sub-
    Measure
    ID
    Measure/Sub-Measure Name
    Budg
    et
    (EUR
    m)
    Int.
    Field
    Coeff.
    %
    Int.
    Field
    Coeff
    . %
    2.6.6
    2.6 Nature protection and adaptation
    to climate change - 2.6.6 Water
    retention in forest
    11.8 040 40%
    2.7.1.1
    2.7 Circular economy, recycling and
    industrial water - 2.7.1.1 Building
    recycling infrastructure
    67.4
    045bi
    s
    100%
    2.7.2.1
    2.7 Circular economy, recycling and
    industrial water - 2.7.2.1 Circular
    solutions in businesses
    39.3
    047bi
    s
    40%
    2.7.2.2
    2.7 Circular economy, recycling and
    industrial water - 2.7.2.2 Water
    saving in industry
    14.7
    047bi
    s
    40%
    2.8.1.1
    2.8 Brownfields revitalisation -
    2.8.1.1 Support for revitalisation of
    specific areas – energy-efficient
    renovation of buildings on
    brownfield sites
    55.8 026 40%
    2.8.1.2
    2.8 Brownfields revitalisation -
    2.8.1.2 Support for revitalisation of
    specific areas – demolition and
    energy-efficient construction
    24.0 025ter 40%
    2.8.2.1
    2.8 Brownfields revitalisation -
    2.8.2.1 Support for the revitalisation
    of areas in public ownership for non-
    business use – energy-efficient
    renovation
    25.1 026 40%
    2.8.2.2
    2.8 Brownfields revitalisation -
    2.8.2.2 Support for the revitalisation
    of areas in public ownership for non-
    business use – turning industrial
    sites and contaminated land into a
    natural carbon sink
    6.3
    046bi
    s
    40%
    2.8.3.1
    2.8 Brownfields revitalisation -
    2.8.3.1 Support for the revitalisation
    of areas in public ownership for
    business use – energy-efficient
    renovation of buildings on
    brownfield sites
    13.7 026 40%
    58
    Climate Digital
    Measure
    / Sub-
    Measure
    ID
    Measure/Sub-Measure Name
    Budg
    et
    (EUR
    m)
    Int.
    Field
    Coeff.
    %
    Int.
    Field
    Coeff
    . %
    2.8.3.2
    2.8 Brownfields revitalisation -
    2.8.3.2 Support for the revitalisation
    of areas in public ownership for
    business use – demolition and
    energy-efficient construction
    5.9 025ter 40%
    2.9.1
    2.9 Promotion of biodiversity and
    fight against drought - 2.9.1
    Protection against droughts and
    floods of the city of Brno
    29.9 040 40%
    2.9.2
    2.9 Promotion of biodiversity and
    fight against drought - 2.9.2
    Rainwater management in urban
    agglomerations
    41.8 040 40%
    2.9.3
    2.9 Promotion of biodiversity and
    fight against drought - 2.9.3
    Protected areas including Natura
    2000 sites and protected species of
    plants and animals
    21.4 050 40%
    2.9.4
    2.9 Promotion of biodiversity and
    fight against drought - 2.9.4
    Adaptation of aquatic, non-forest
    and forest ecosystems to climate
    change
    63.1 037 100%
    2.9.5
    2.9 Promotion of biodiversity and
    fight against drought - 2.9.5
    Preparation of Landscape Policy and
    landscape planning with special
    regard to achieving climate, energy
    and nature and landscape protection
    goals (RESTORE & REPOWER)
    3.4 050 40%
    3.1.2
    3.1 Innovation in education in the
    context of digitalisation - 3.1.2
    Implementation of the revised
    curriculum and digital skills of
    teachers
    22.1 108 100%
    3.1.3
    3.1 Innovation in education in the
    context of digitalisation - 3.1.3
    Digital equipment for schools
    168.7 012 100%
    59
    Climate Digital
    Measure
    / Sub-
    Measure
    ID
    Measure/Sub-Measure Name
    Budg
    et
    (EUR
    m)
    Int.
    Field
    Coeff.
    %
    Int.
    Field
    Coeff
    . %
    3.3.1.1
    3.3 Modernisation of employment
    services and labour market
    development - 3.3.1.1 Development
    of labour market policies – digital
    competencies
    127.6 108 100%
    3.3.1.2
    3.3 Modernisation of employment
    services and labour market
    development - 3.3.1.2 Development
    of labour market policies –
    competencies needed for digital
    transition and for addressing the
    needs of Industry 4.0
    127.6 016 40%
    3.3.1.4
    3.3 Modernisation of employment
    services and labour market
    development - 3.3.1.4 Development
    of labour market policies – Creation
    of a database of reskilling and
    upskilling courses
    0.4 011 100%
    3.3.2.2
    3.3 Modernisation of employment
    services and labour market
    development - 3.3.2.2 Increasing the
    capacity of childcare facilities –
    Construction of new energy efficient
    buildings
    63.6 025ter 40%
    3.3.2.3
    3.3 Modernisation of employment
    services and labour market
    development - 3.3.2.3 Increasing the
    capacity of childcare facilities –
    energy efficiency renovation
    76.2 026 40%
    3.3.2.4
    3.3 Modernisation of employment
    services and labour market
    development - 3.3.2.4 Increasing the
    capacity of childcare facilities –
    energy efficiency renovation
    compliant with energy efficiency
    criteria
    114.4
    026bi
    s
    100%
    3.3.3.1.1
    3.3 Modernisation of employment
    services and labour market
    development - 3.3.3.1.1
    Development and modernisation of
    109.0 025ter 40%
    60
    Climate Digital
    Measure
    / Sub-
    Measure
    ID
    Measure/Sub-Measure Name
    Budg
    et
    (EUR
    m)
    Int.
    Field
    Coeff.
    %
    Int.
    Field
    Coeff
    . %
    social care infrastructure – creation
    of new capacities of community-
    based, outpatient and field social
    services
    3.3.3.1.2
    3.3 Modernisation of employment
    services and labour market
    development - 3.3.3.1.2
    Development and modernisation of
    social care infrastructure –
    reconstruction of community-based,
    outpatient and field social services,
    including facilities, reconversion of
    existing capacity
    109.0 026 40%
    3.3.3.1.3
    3.3 Modernisation of employment
    services and labour market
    development - 3.3.3.1.3
    Development and modernisation of
    social care infrastructure –
    reconstruction of community-based,
    outpatient and field social services,
    including facilities, reconversion of
    existing capacity (compliant with
    energy efficiency criteria)
    109.0
    026bi
    s
    100%
    3.3.3.2.2
    3.3 Modernisation of employment
    services and labour market
    development - 3.3.3.2.2
    Development of social prevention,
    counselling and care services
    through the renewal of the electric
    vehicle fleet – electric cars
    4.6 N/A6
    100%
    6
    The ‘Methodology for climate tracking’ annexed to the Recovery and Resilience Facility Regulation does not set out
    intervention fields that would allow for climate or environmental tracking of electric vehicles or plug-in hybrid
    vehicles, except for vehicles for urban transport falling under intervention field 074. According to Article 18(4)(e) of
    the Regulation, the methodology should however ‘be used accordingly for measures that cannot be directly assigned
    to an intervention field listed in Annex VI’. In this context, the Commission has applied a 100% climate contribution
    coefficient for zero-emission vehicles of all categories (this includes battery electric and fuel cell/hydrogen-powered
    vehicles); a 40% climate contribution coefficient for plug-in hybrid light-duty vehicles; and, in line with the criteria
    under the Taxonomy Regulation, a 100% climate coefficient for low-emission heavy-duty vehicles.
    61
    Climate Digital
    Measure
    / Sub-
    Measure
    ID
    Measure/Sub-Measure Name
    Budg
    et
    (EUR
    m)
    Int.
    Field
    Coeff.
    %
    Int.
    Field
    Coeff
    . %
    3.3.3.2.3
    3.3 Modernisation of employment
    services and labour market
    development - 3.3.3.2.3
    Development of social prevention,
    counselling and care services
    through the renewal of the electric
    vehicle fleet – hybrid cars
    5.4 N/A7
    40%
    3.3.4.3
    3.3 Modernisation of employment
    services and labour market
    development - 3.3.4.3 Development
    and modernisation of infrastructure
    in the field of care for children at
    risk- equipment
    20 025 40%
    4.2.2
    4.2 New quasi-capital and guarantee
    instruments to support
    entrepreneurship and development
    of the National Development Bank,
    a.s. NRB as a national development
    bank - 4.2.2 Development of a new
    line of quasi-equity instruments
    supporting entrepreneurship
    39.3 047 40%
    4.5.4
    4.5 Development of the cultural and
    creative sector - 4.5.4 Digitalisation
    of cultural and creative sector
    31.4 021bis 100%
    4.5.6
    4.5 Development of the cultural and
    creative sector - 4.5.6 Creative
    vouchers
    22.0 020 40%
    5.2.1
    5.2 Support for research and
    development in companies and
    introduction of innovations into
    business practice - 5.2.1 Supporting
    39.3 020 40%
    7
    The ‘Methodology for climate tracking’ annexed to the Recovery and Resilience Facility Regulation does not set out
    intervention fields that would allow for climate or environmental tracking of electric vehicles or plug-in hybrid
    vehicles, except for vehicles for urban transport falling under intervention field 074. According to Article 18(4)(e) of
    the Regulation, the methodology should however ‘be used accordingly for measures that cannot be directly assigned
    to an intervention field listed in Annex VI’. In this context, the Commission has applied a 100% climate contribution
    coefficient for zero-emission vehicles of all categories (this includes battery electric and fuel cell/hydrogen-powered
    vehicles); a 40% climate contribution coefficient for plug-in hybrid light-duty vehicles; and, in line with the criteria
    under the Taxonomy Regulation, a 100% climate coefficient for low-emission heavy-duty vehicles.
    62
    Climate Digital
    Measure
    / Sub-
    Measure
    ID
    Measure/Sub-Measure Name
    Budg
    et
    (EUR
    m)
    Int.
    Field
    Coeff.
    %
    Int.
    Field
    Coeff
    . %
    the uptake of innovation in business
    practice
    5.2.3
    5.2 Support for research and
    development in companies and
    introduction of innovations into
    business practice - 5.2.3 Aid for
    research and development in the
    environmental field
    8.4 022 100%
    5.2.4
    5.2 Support for research and
    development in companies and
    introduction of innovations into
    business practice - 5.2.4 Aid for
    research and development in
    synergy effects with the Framework
    Programme for Research and
    Innovation
    19.6 015 40%
    5.2.7
    5.2 Support for research and
    development in companies and
    introduction of innovations into
    business practice - 5.2.7 Research
    and development in the
    environmental field
    17.9 022 100%
    7.1.3
    7.1 Renewable energy and
    electricity infrastructure - 7.1.3
    Construction, strengthening,
    reconstruction and modernization of
    distribution systems
    282.0 033 100%
    7.1.4
    7.1 Renewable energy and
    electricity infrastructure - 7.1.4
    Development of new photovoltaic
    energy sources
    108.6 029 100%
    7.2.2
    7.2 Supporting decentralisation and
    digitalisation of the energy sector –
    7.2.2 Energy data center
    33.7 033 100%
    7.3.1
    7.3 Comprehensive reform of
    consultancy for the renovation wave
    in the Czech Republic – 7.3.1
    Energy consulting
    168.5 027 100%
    63
    Climate Digital
    Measure
    / Sub-
    Measure
    ID
    Measure/Sub-Measure Name
    Budg
    et
    (EUR
    m)
    Int.
    Field
    Coeff.
    %
    Int.
    Field
    Coeff
    . %
    7.4.1
    7.4 School adaptation – Promoting
    green skills and sustainability in
    universities - 7.4.1 Transformation
    of universities to adapt to changing
    needs of the labour market
    42.1 01 100%
    7.5.6
    7.5 Decarbonisation of road
    transport - 7.5.6 Support for the
    purchase of vehicles - zero emission
    vehicles for businesses
    32.0 N/A8
    100%
    7.6.1
    7.6 Electrification of rail transport –
    7.6.1 Electrification in Brno region
    55.5
    066bi
    s
    100%
    7.7.2
    7.7 Simplifying environmental
    permitting processes and defining
    areas for the development of
    renewable energy sources - 7.7.2
    Defining renewables acceleration
    areas
    7.6 050 40%
    While the estimated cost of Czechia’s recovery and resilience plan exceeds the total allocation of
    non-repayable financial support to Czechia, Czechia will ensure that all spending related to the
    measures mentioned in this table as contributing to climate objectives are fully financed by the
    funds from the Recovery and Resilience Facility.
    8
    The ‘Methodology for climate tracking’ annexed to the Recovery and Resilience Facility Regulation does not set out
    intervention fields that would allow for climate or environmental tracking of electric vehicles or plug-in hybrid
    vehicles, except for vehicles for urban transport falling under intervention field 074. According to Article 18(4)(e) of
    the Regulation, the methodology should however ‘be used accordingly for measures that cannot be directly assigned
    to an intervention field listed in Annex VI’. In this context, the Commission has applied a 100% climate contribution
    coefficient for zero-emission vehicles of all categories (this includes battery electric and fuel cell/hydrogen-powered
    vehicles); a 40% climate contribution coefficient for plug-in hybrid light-duty vehicles; and, in line with the criteria
    under the Taxonomy Regulation, a 100% climate coefficient for low-emission heavy-duty vehicles.