New programme period: one trillion Czech crowns and simpler procedures for applicants
At the end of June, the Czech Ministry for Regional Development held a conference entitled “Green and Digital Czechia? But What About People…”, at which it presented the main goals and investment opportunities encompassed within the EU funds for the following programme period of 2021–2027.
In the following seven years, the Czech Republic will have one trillion of Czech crowns available in programmes such as OP Technology and Application for Competitiveness (OP TAC), OP Jan Amos Komenský (OP JAK), Integrated Regional Operational Programme (IROP), OP Transport, OP Environment, OP Fair Transformation or Modernisation Fund.
Support will especially target the reduction of CO2 emissions, the circular economy, digitalisation, educational changes and assistance to regions most affected by structural changes (e.g. the discontinuation of coal mining), etc.
Moreover, applicants for support will benefit from several simplifications, e.g., relating to the method of reporting information during their project’s implementation or mandatory publicity. Support should also be paid out quicker, as the number of inspections should decrease. The most significant change concerns the methods of communication between applicants and evaluators: applicants should get the chance to present their projects at the evaluation committee’s meeting and correct their applications for support where correctable criteria are concerned, etc.
The above programmes are planned to be approved and individual calls announced at the end of 2021 or during 2022 at the latest.