Pavel discusses Dukovany and Czech state economic strategy with Vlček today

President Petr Pavel met with Minister of Industry and Trade Lukáš Vlček (STAN) shortly after noon today. During the roughly hour-long meeting, they discussed mainly the current state of preparations for building nuclear units at Dukovany and implementation of the state's economic strategy. They also briefly discussed the current political situation in the country. Minister Vlček told reporters after the meeting.

According to Vlček, the meeting had been planned since last week. “We talked mainly about economic issues,” the minister stressed. He said he and the president discussed progress on the tasks Vlček had presented to him when he was appointed to the post a year ago.

One of the main topics Pavel was interested in, according to Vlček, was the current state of preparations for the nuclear units at Dukovany. “The project has moved forward over the past few weeks,” the minister said. He recalled the state’s recent request for notification of state aid, under which it plans to provide a state loan to Elektrárna Dukovany II. The state has held a majority stake in the company since this year. The European Commission is expected to assess whether the loan complies with EU rules by the end of next year.

Other topics at today’s meeting, according to Vlček, included implementation of the state’s economic strategy, the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s proposed budget for next year, the ministry’s plans to promote exports and other projects in the pipeline.

Pavel and Vlček also briefly discussed current political developments in the country and the current opposition’s plans for the sector. In this context, Vlček cited ANO’s plans to nationalize energy company ČEZ. “I still believe this is nonsense. Buying out minority shareholders would halt ČEZ’s investment program and also affect state budget revenues, among other things,” the minister said. He also reiterated that he wants to be a constructive opposition voice in relation to the new government. ANO’s economic strategy, for example, contains a number of issues on which there is agreement, he said.