PM Holds Presser w/European Commission Pres. After Green Deal Speech

Czech PM Petr Fiala and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen holding ajoint presser in Prague following VdL's addressto the Green Deal Summit 2023 held earlier this morning in the Czech capital. In her address VdL talked up a green energy transition in Czechia and the efforts the EU is set to go to to assist with this.

• However, the words on shifting away from lignite and coal mining in certain areas of the country jar with PM Fiala's comments last week pushing for investment in lithium mining. While coal/lignite and lithium mining are not comparable in their end use (the former for CO2-producing energy, the latter used in battery technology), domestic opponents have raised concerns. Euractiv reports "...some have raised concerns, primarily due to a lack of detailed information about the project and the potential environmental impact of mining operations."
• These concerns are likely to receive short shrift, given that Czechia, and the wider EU, is keen to boost any domestic production of raw materials such as lithium to wean themselves off of non-European supply chains. Euractic also reports "Czech Trade and Industry Minister Jozef Síkela also revealed that there are talks with three potential investors regarding the car battery factory in the country. While the name of the potential investor remains confidential, negotiations are progressing."