The proposal for the new EURO 7 emission standard will ultimately be significantly more acceptable and realistic than originally proposed. This is confirmed by the final compromise agreement reached on 18 December 2023 between the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council. During more than a year of negotiations, the Czech Republic managed to defend all its key demands. The exhaust emission limits for cars and vans will remain at the current EURO 6 standard, including the testing conditions for passenger vehicles. Furthermore, the deadlines for the entry into force of the new rules have been postponed and the vehicle emissions monitoring system has also undergone major changes.
Drivers will see new traffic signs on our motorways and roads next year. The Legislative Council of the Government approved an amendment to Decree No. 294/2015 Coll. The changed contained therein are based on changes within the framework of the approved major Road Traffic Act amendment and at the same time incorporate experience from practice in response to current trends in road traffic. The use and placement of new signs can be decided by the competent administrative authorities from 1 January 2024.
Improving safety on Europe's roads, better prevention for novice drivers and more effective cross-border enforcement of traffic offences. These were the main topics of the meeting of the EU Council in the formation of transport ministers, which was attended by Transport Minister Martin Kupka on behalf of the Czech Republic. European ministers today adopted the so-called Council position on further directives related to the Road Safety Package. In addition, the ministers also discussed further European funding for the construction of transport infrastructure.
This year marks 15 years since the Czech Republic joined the European Space Agency (ESA). Agencies focusing on cooperation between members on space missions, launch vehicles, research and many other areas in which Czech businesses, research institutes and academic entities also participate. Czech companies and academic institutions have been or are still involved in more than 600 technologically challenging projects in ESA; more than 60 Czech companies are directly involved in ESA projects and dozens more have an important role in supply chains. More than 20 Czech academic institutions and centres doing space research cooperate with ESA.
This year's main construction season is slowly coming to an end, with a total of 70.2 kilometres of roads and motorways to be put into operation in 2023. A record 147.1 kilometres of roads will be opened in 2024. In 2023 and 2024, construction of a total of 236.4 kilometres will start.
According to the rapporteur of the proposal, Czech MEP Alexander Vondra in the ENVI Committee, the plenary session of the European Parliament adopted a position on the EURO 7 standard proposal in a more acceptable form. Next, trialogues and negotiations between the positions of the Council and the EP will be launched that shall lead to the final wording of the Regulation. A total of 329 out of 600 voters were in favour.