Czech Republic - Strengthening of the institutional and administrative capacities

Short-term priorities:

• improving capacity in banking and insurance sector supervision, internal financial control, environment and agriculture;
• strengthening the relevant phytosanitary and veterinary administrations, particularly as regards facilities at external borders;
• making a start on setting up the necessary structures for regional and structural policies.

Assessment (October 1999)

There was some progress with setting up the structures needed for implementing regional and structural policies. None was made, however, on administrative capacity building in the insurance sector, environment and agriculture. Similarly, little was done to improve phytosanitary and veterinary facilities at the external borders. Neither was there any movement on the adoption of a system of internal financial control in the national administration.

Assessment (November 2000)

A law on the civil service has been prepared but has not yet been adopted. Progress has been made in the reform of the judicial system, but much remains to be done. Internal financial auditing remains ineffective.

Assessment (November 2001)

The implementation of the reform of the civil service has not begun. Although some progress has been made in reforming the judicial system, the autonomy of the judiciary and the training of judges must be improved. Internal and external financial controls have improved. The Sapard agency has yet to be accredited. The national and rural development plans have been drawn up.

Assessment (October 2002)

These priorities have not been assessed. The section on the Partnership for accession in the 2002 report focuses on issues which require more work in order to prepare the Czech Republic for accession.

Assessment (November 2003)

Please refer to the fact sheets on the adoption of the Community acquis.

Medium-term priorities:

• continue the policy to modernise public administration;
• improve the operation of the judicial system and customs authorities and train the judiciary in Community law and its application;
• establish independent bodies to supervise data and consumer protection;
• reinforce the relevant justice and home affairs institutions (ensuring sufficient and properly trained personnel, in particular for the police, border posts, and ministries and courts);
• strengthen the nuclear safety authority;
• complete the alignment of financial control capacity;
• reform of customs and tax administrations to ensure readiness to apply the acquis;
• reinforce food inspection services.

Assessment (October 1999)

The Government has focused particularly on public administration reform, although no legislation has been adopted in this respect. It has presented Parliament with a general reform programme aiming to overcome the main deficiencies in the judicial system. The operation of the customs and tax administrations continues to improve.

Assessment (November 2000)

No progress has been recorded in these priorities.

Assessment (November 2001)

With regard to financial control, the administrative capacities have been strengthened. The reform of the judiciary is under way. The Czech statistical office is operating well and the legislation in this field has been brought into line with the acquis.

Assessment (October 2002)

These priorities have not been assessed.

Assessment (November 2003)

Please refer to the fact sheets on the adoption of the Community acquis.

Following the signing of the Accession Treaty on 16 April 2003, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia acceded to the European Union on 1 May 2004.

REFERENCES

Decision 98/267/EC of 30.3.1998Official Journal L 121, 23.4.1998

Decision 1999/858/EC of 6.12.1999Official Journal L 335, 28.12.1999

Commission Opinion COM(97) 2009 finalNot published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(98) 708 finalNot published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(1999) 503 finalNot published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2000) 703 finalNot published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2001) 700 final - SEC (2001) 1746Not published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2002) 700 final - SEC (2002) 1402Not published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2003) 675 final - SEC(2003) 1200Not published in the Official Journal

Treaty of Accession to the European Union [Official Journal L 236, 23.09.2003]

Last updated: 19.11.2004