Speech of the Prime Minister of the CR, Mirek Topolánek on the occasion of opening ceremony at reconstructed centre of the town of Kolín on 22.2.2007

Dear mayor, dear councillors, dear ladies, dear gentlemen
It is very nice here. But I know that you did not invite me just because of courteous participation in "cutting the tape" and because of admiring beauty of reconstructed historical centre. You certainly also want me to notice problems that the town – which is blameless – must to face. I have noticed it.

Support of regional development is an issue, which every government must deal with, whether it is a right-wing or a left-wing government. People live everywhere and the state should be interested in equal chances and prosperity of all communities within one republic. The town of Kolín is unfortunately an example how the regional policy should not be done.

It is true that billions crowns from taxes of all our citizens and further billion from the Kolín budget have helped starting business of a firm, the export of which improves balance of trade of our country. But the town of Kolín itself does not make profit of this, it rather faces problems. New car factory has improved unemployment rate neither in this locality nor in the framework of republic. We have just created jobs for foreign workers.

Let us get it clear, businessmen of the TPCA are not to blame. They were just doing their business and exploited conditions offered. The car factory prospers in fact and therefore all seems to be all right from this point of view. They were state planners – as usual – who has failed.

It has been shown again that the government should create opportunities – fiscal, legislative, administrative – in which all firms can make a good business regardless their size and source of capital. Once a government bureaucrat start to make business, once it is upon his decision which investment is supported and which is not, it often turns out bad - as it was in Kolín.

We have a prospering firm here, which will be enjoying ten years of tax holidays. But on the other hand, we have a town here with destroyed infrastructure, town burdened with all negative effects resulting from big industrial company in its neighbourhood, massive increase of transport burden, migration, criminality – but they are nearly no benefits here.

When we add to it – but it does not concern only Kolín – unjust and non-motivating system of allocation of tax revenues, then I must state that it is not so nice here. What to do about it?

If I start with the tax revenue allocation, it is a problem about which we know, of course, which we criticized in case of former government and which we will be solving. It will not start at once, as it concerns amendment to the act that will have to be passed to the Parliament.

As to destroyed infrastructure of Kolín as a consequence of faulty policy of former government, it is also a problem worth considering. If I say considering I mean that I acknowledge the right of inhabitants of Kolín not to pay for increased state balance of trade. On the other hand you know that not only Kolín, but the entire country is indebted. Therefore I say that the problem is worth considering. I am not going to say more now.

I believe that thing will be improving gradually; as it was in case of the centre of your town, which is really marvellous. The problem is to find the proper level of cooperation between municipality and the government, so that nobody would be discriminated and nobody would be unjustly privileged. I will be trying to achieve with regard to municipalities, and council of your town will certainly be trying to do it, as well.

You have certain "plus points". If I would paraphrase words of a famous Kmoch´s song, I would say: "Oh Kolín, Kolín you are not to blame". It should be something done about it.
Thank you for your attention.