New issue of the Czech Business Today was published!

Services Directive’s implementation, Late payments and EU 2020 are the main topics of the last issue of the Czech Business Today. In the beginning of February, Permanent Representation of the Czech Republic and CEBRE – Czech Business Representation to the EU in cooperation with the Czech Ministry of Trade and Industry organized a debate on Points of Single Contact of the Services Directive. Second important issue of last CBT is the new Strategy for Growth and Jobs titled EU 2020 (our issue was released before the Strategy was renamed to Europe 2020). You can find here recommendations for EU 2020 priorities made by Czech government and Czech business associations. Third topic is dedicated to the revision of Late Payments directive and comments of Czech business organisations on the report of Madame Barbara Weiler, Member of European Parliament’s IMCO Committee, rapporter of the Late Payments Directive. The second page of CBT deals with electric cars and invites you for interesting events in Brussels and Prague you should not miss.

By the end of 2009, Member States had to fully implement the Services Directive. However, not all the countries did comply with this deadline. The Czech Republic was one of the first countries where the directive has been implemented. The aim of the directive is to simplify trading abroad and to eliminate administrative burden. Implementation also depends on the effectiveness of so called Points of Single Contact for entrepreneurs facilitating cross-border trading with services.

According to the Czech entrepreneurs the new EU Strategy titled EU 2020 (replacing Post-Lisbon Strategy) should focused on coping with economic crisis, ageing population, climate change, stabilising financial markets and supporting innovation and education.

Late payments are an important issue for entrepreneurs, especially during the economic crisis because late payments worsen the liquidity. In April 2009, the European Commission submitted a proposal for Late Payments Directive revision. Revision intends to improve the culture of late payments and penalize the worst debtors that are public authorities. Czech businesses welcome Commission initiative and agree with stricter rules for public authorities. Barbara Weiler MEP, rapporteur for Late Payments revision, proposed an equal treatment between public authorities and undertakings. This is not acceptable for Czech entrepreneurs as the public authorities have more secured position.

Emission reduction in automotive industry has its limits and new technologies must be invented to alleviate the environment. The Spanish Presidency supports electrification of the transport having potential to be more environmental friendly than traditional cars. Electric cars can perform effectively. Still, more research in this field is needed as well as appropriate infrastructure and common standards for the EU.

CBT 1/2010 

Previus issues of CBT