The National Convention on the EU published recommendations from a roundtable held on 26 September 2025, which focused on the role of the Czech Republic and the competitiveness of the European Union, including economic security, relations with the USA and China, and the Global Gateway strategy. The discussion addressed the steps the EU should take to strengthen its competitiveness and security, as well as the priorities the Czech Republic should promote in these areas.

The EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy published a press release on 31 October 2025, presenting an analysis of material flows and recycling in the Czech automotive industry and highlighting the need for collaboration between automakers, steel producers, and recyclers to achieve low-carbon and circular solutions.

The Czech automotive industry remains one of Europe’s strongest, producing 1.45 million cars in 2024 and accounting for 12.7 percent of EU output, with more than 90 percent destined for export. This high level of integration into European and global supply chains creates both opportunities and vulnerabilities, especially given Czechia’s dependence on imported aluminium, battery materials and automotive-grade steel, and its reliance on German demand and Chinese supply. Our estimates show that the sector’s material needs already reach around 260 kt of aluminium, 1.4 Mt of steel and 20 GWh of Li-ion batteries per year, and will increase further as electric vehicles approach a 60 percent share of production by 2030. Meeting this demand will require more than rising imports. It will depend on a functioning domestic market for high-quality scrap, progress on battery recycling and strategic investment in low-carbon materials. Upcoming EU regulations, including the ELVR, Battery Regulation, CRMA, CBAM and ESPR, will raise the standards for circularity and secondary material use, but Czechia still lacks a strategy to align with these requirements. Without clearer policy direction and investment in modern recycling and sorting infrastructure, the country risks increasing its reliance on high-carbon imports despite having significant potential to recover valuable materials at home.

The European Commission’s proposal for the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework has sparked lively discussions among EU governments and in the European Parliament. With close to €2 trillion at stake, the key question is how the EU can finance its priorities, repay pandemic-era debt, and support countries such as Poland and Czechia — all while avoiding new political rifts. EUROPEUM analyst Filip Křenek takes a closer look at the issue here.

Negotiations on the EU's multiannual budget for 2028-2034 are in full swing. How are Czechia and Poland responding to the proposal? Experts say that both countries appreciate the simplified structure and greater flexibility of the budget, but at the same time express concerns about the system of national plans.

Economic security and competitiveness are becoming key issues for the European Union in order to maintain its global position and internal stability. The EU faces a long-term lag behind the United States in innovation and technology, while pressure from China and other economic rivals is growing. A new wave of American protectionism, geopolitical upheavals caused by Russian aggression, and the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic have exposed the vulnerability of the European economy and its dependence on external supply chains. The European Commission has therefore presented a set of initiatives – from the Competitiveness Compass to the Clean Industry Agreement – aimed at strengthening resilience, reducing dependence on third countries, and streamlining the business environment. The Global Gateway initiative, which aims to diversify European trade and supply relations through strategic investments and partnerships, is also an important tool for strengthening the Union's global role. Given the strong industrial orientation and openness of the Czech economy, it is essential for Czechia to actively engage in these debates and formulate its priorities within the European economic security strategy.

The Czech Republic has so far relied mainly on traditional EU budget funds, but it is now essential to support Czech companies, universities, and research institutions in becoming more involved in the EU’s directly managed programs. Filip Křenek, an analyst at the EUROPEUM Institute, commented on the matter for Euractiv.

The European Commission has presented its proposal for the EU's multiannual budget for 2028–2034, which it describes as ambitious. However, a closer look reveals that its actual form is more modest than grandiose. The new budget brings changes in structure and priorities that may have a significant impact on Czechia, as explained by EUROPEUM Institute analyst Filip Křenek in the Europe Up Close podcast.

Negotiations on the new multiannual EU budget for 2028–2034 are beginning. However, the European Commission’s summer proposal has faced criticism from various sides. What major changes might the new budget bring? Will it be good or bad news for the Czech Republic? And what should the country prepare for as the new budget comes into effect? Analyst Filip Křenek from the EUROPEUM think tank discusses these questions in the podcast Europe Up Close.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz has rejected the EU's plan to ban combustion engines from 2035. Czech politicians and representatives of the automotive industry welcome the change in the German government's position. Filip Křenek, an analyst at the EUROPEUM Institute, commented on the matter for Televizní Noviny.

Czechia is looking for a way to remain competitive in Europe while also accessing billions in EU funds. It is not just about the state budget, but also about its future position among European players. Filip Křenek, an analyst at the EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Seznam Zprávy.

The European Union budget is set to rise to two trillion euros, but its impact will be limited due to high debt and inflation. A significant portion of the funds are earmarked for regional equalization, which Czechia has been drawing on for a long time. However, these subsidies will gradually decrease. Filip Křenek, an analyst at the EUROPEUM Institute, commented for Seznam Zprávy.