Germany and the Czech Republic want to resume their climate and energy policy dialogue. This was decided by the joint German-Czech environmental commission at its meeting in Prague yesterday. The body is presided over by Rita Schwarzelühr-Suttter, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Environment Ministry, and Vladislav Smrž, Director General at the Czech Ministry of the Environment. The commission, which also includes representatives of the German Federal Länder Saxony and Bavaria as well as environmental associations, coordinates environmental cooperation between the two countries.
Ms Schwarzelühr-Sutter commented: "We are happy to support our neighbours in their efforts to make more efficient use of energy and to increase the share of renewable energies: This creates jobs and is thus beneficial for the economy but also for the climate and the environment." Ms Schwarzelühr-Sutter also campaigned for Czech support for ambitious and binding climate targets.
In this dialogue, the Czech Republic is especially interested in German experience with the use of renewable energies and enhancing energy efficiency. Businesses from both countries will be included in the dialogue. The Environmental Innovation Programme for Projects Abroad is an opportunity for the Federal Environment Ministry to provide funding for modern technologies in the field of climate action. The Czech Republic is interested in making greater use of this programme.
Cooperation is also particularly good with a view to flood protection. Saxony recognised the support provided by the Czech Republic during the floods in 2013. In addition, Germany and the Czech Republic are planning additional work to protect nature and landscape along the border. This includes cooperation between the national parks Bavarian Forest and Bohemian Forest, and Saxon Switzerland and Bohemian Switzerland. The cooperation between the national parks Bavarian Forest and Bohemian Forest is planned to be intensified in order to create a protected area of Europe-wide importance with uniform management goals. Cooperation on the protection on the rare black grouse has already started.
The commission also agreed to improve cooperation regarding the execution of transboundary environmental impact assessments of projects with potential environmental impacts on the neighbouring country. A working group will be examining available options.
Regarding the selection process for a Czech repository for radioactive waste, Parliamentary State Secretary Schwarzelühr-Sutter underlined that Germany expects to be included in both the early stages of site selection and transboundary environmental impact assessment. As part of neighbourly cooperation it could be expected for Germany to be included, and it would also increase transparency for both sides, Ms Schwarzelühr-Sutter added.