The builders do not like the changes related to EIA, claiming that it will stop construction projects

Prague - Builders warn of another disaster that, in their opinion, is looming over the Czech construction industry. It concerns the planned amendment to the building law related to changes in legislation on environmental impact assessments, the so-called EIA process. Builders are particularly unhappy with the suspensive effect of lawsuits against building permits. The European Commission is demanding changes to the legislation across the Czech Republic.
The proposed changes also include a new principle that until the court decides on a lawsuit against a building permit, the project will be suspended. Until now, such a lawsuit automatically did not have a suspensive effect; the court had to decide on a possible suspension of construction until a final decision on the dispute, which must be requested by the person filing the lawsuit.
"If the EIA passes in this proposed form, nothing will be built in the Czech Republic at all," claims Václav Matyáš, president of the Union of Entrepreneurs in Construction in the Czech Republic, who believes that individual disagreement cannot be a reason for the construction not to commence. "One cannot wait until the court decides," Matyáš points out the long-standing delays in Czech judiciary.
The suspensive effect of the lawsuit, according to the General Director and Chairman of the Board of the development company Ekospol, Evžen Korec, was promoted by environmentalists. "These and similar troublemakers and self-proclaimed 'saviors' do everything to completely destroy Czech construction. Recently, they succeeded in halting the process of repairing the vital transport artery D1. What construction will suffer next? With the change in the law, the entire sector will become a hostage to the whims and misguided quasi-ideologies of these self-proclaimed individuals. They will simply be able to stop any construction they fancy. This is simply apocalyptic," Korec does not hide his outrage.
On the contrary, he demands harsh penalties for malicious complainants under the new law. "I hope that the relevant law will contain a clear provision that will hold these complainants accountable in case their lawsuits are rejected, including full compensation for damages caused by forced delays," proposes Korec, the head of one of the largest developers.
Matyáš would also welcome penalties, especially for unfounded objections to the antimonopoly office from unsuccessful bidders for public contracts.
Jiří Vacek, director of CEEC Research, which has long analyzed the situation in the Czech construction industry, also perceives certain risks. "The possibility of appealing to court proceedings can be a risk. Given the conditions we have, it can slow everything down," agrees Vacek. However, he believes that the current penalties can already deter many complainants. "In these court proceedings, the fees are relatively quite high, so it shouldn't happen too often," Vacek added.
The European Commission is demanding a change in the legislation regarding the assessment of the impact of buildings on the environment across the Czech Republic. It has even initiated proceedings against the Czech Republic, which could result in a significant fine. Aligning this issue with EU law is also one of the key conditions for accessing funds from European funds in the new programming period. Until the Czech Republic changes the law, Brussels will not release a euro for projects in the Czech Republic.