In April and May 2015, the European Commission approved a total of five new operational programmes for the Czech Republic, which will provide financial support for projects in 2014/2020. The approved programmes include Enterprise and Innovation for Competitiveness, Environment, Employment, Transport and Research, Development and Education, under which the Czech Republic can draw up to EUR 24 billion to support individual projects.

Operational programmes are the programmes of individual ministries or regions through which applicants receive financial support from individual EU funds for projects that fall under the relevant operational programme.

Each operational programme is divided into areas of intervention, under which calls for applications will be announced, setting specific conditions for the provision of grants. Applicants will then prepare projects and apply for grants based on these calls for applications.

In April and May 2015, the European Commission approved a total of five of ten new operational programmes for the Czech Republic, which will provide financial support for projects in 2014/2020. The Czech Republic is therefore behind in the approval of programmes and, in view of the fact that funds can be drawn from the relevant EU funds from 2015, it will not manage to draw all available funds.

The Commission approved the following specific programmes for the Czech Republic, under which the Czech Republic can draw up to EUR 24 billion to support individual projects:

• Enterprise and Innovation for Competitiveness – the aim of the programme is to achieve a competitive and sustainable economy based on knowledge and innovation. Financial support under this operational programme will help entrepreneurs and companies in research, development and business or efficient energy management. Support will also be provided for the introduction of high-speed internet and information technology. 

• Environment – the aim of the programme is to protect and ensure a quality environment for people living in the Czech Republic and to promote the efficient use of resources. Under the programme, projects may focus on eliminating the negative environmental impact of human activity or reducing the adverse effects of climate change. 

• Employment – the programme is aimed at supporting employment and the adaptability of the workforce, as well as social inclusion and fighting poverty. The aim is also to integrate the long-term unemployed into the work process and educate (train) employees. 

• Transport – the programme focuses on improving transport infrastructure, in particular, key transport routes, which is a precondition for increasing the competitiveness of individual regions and the Czech Republic as a whole. The aim is to reduce the negative effects of transport on the environment, with an emphasis on promoting sustainable forms of transport and improving transport accessibility. 

• Research, Development and Education – the objectives of the programme are mainly aimed at developing research, higher education and equal access to education. Schools can apply for grants for new teaching methods, while support is also provided for visiting foreign teachers at Czech schools and the expansion of courses and training for adults.  This is the first operational programme financed from two sources, namely the European Social Fund (ESF) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The difference between these funds is in the types of supported interventions. The ESF is designed for non-investment projects (e.g. education/training) and the ERDF supports investment and infrastructure projects. 

The first calls for applications are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. It is therefore recommended that those interested in financial support in any of the above areas monitor the websites of the relevant ministries.

Based on these calls, interested parties must prepare the relevant project and submit an application for a grant. If the application is approved, a contract will be concluded between the applicant and provider of the grant, based on which the funds will be provided to the applicant.

In general, a condition for the provision of support is the realisation of the project under strictly defined conditions and the subsequent maintenance of the project. Therefore, as a rule, the applicant’s obligations do not end with the provision of financial support, and they are often bound by the terms of the grant years after the completion of the project. In the event of a breach of these conditions, the applicant may, in extreme cases, be obliged to return the grant, even retrospectively, i.e. after the funds have been used for the realisation of the project and are no longer available. It is therefore necessary to observe all stipulated obligations and duly fulfil these on time.

For more information, please contact our office’s partner, Mgr. Jiří Kučera, e-mail: jkucera@kuceralegal.cz ; tel.: +420604242241.