The number of EU directives awaiting transposition into Czech law has been notably reduced by almost two-thirds since last year, as reported by the Minister for Legislation, Michal Salomoun of the Pirates party. Speaking to CTK (Czech News Agency), Salomoun highlighted this achievement, signifying a commendable progress in the alignment of national legislation with EU mandates.

The Czech cabinet extensively deliberated on this matter during a recent session while reviewing a comprehensive report on the nation’s commitment to fulfilling legislative obligations stemming from its EU membership. This report was officially endorsed by the government, revealed Jana Tausova, the spokesperson for Minister Salomoun.

EU directives are legislative measures devised at the European level, mandating certain regulations, standards, and protocols. However, the onus of implementing these directives into local laws rests with individual member states. This process of adaptation ensures the harmonization of legal frameworks across the Union.

Minister Salomoun had previously noted that, by the close of November in the preceding year, a significant backlog of 36 EU directives remained untransposed. However, as of Monday, this count had dramatically dwindled to 13 outstanding directives.

Addressing the acceptance threshold for such discrepancies, Minister Salomoun elucidated, “It is considered acceptable if the state is roughly 1% behind in incorporating EU directives. The Czech Republic is now at around 1.2%. My personal goal is to get to 1%.”

As the Czech legislative landscape evolves, some notable items are awaiting further action. Amendments to the “linear” or insolvency law are pending in the lower house, while an amendment to the Labour Code has been referred back to the lower house by the Senate. Additionally, discussions within the upper house are centered around a law on preventive restructuring and another amendment concerning insolvency. Remarkably, the government deliberated the law on collective proceedings during its recent session.

The concerted efforts to streamline the incorporation of EU directives into national law not only reflect a commitment to international agreements but also underscore the country’s dedication to maintaining alignment with the broader European legal framework.

Article by Prague Forum