PM Andrej Babiš meets Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder in Munich: EU competitiveness, energy, and security remain our shared priorities
The Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Andrej Babiš, met today with Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder at the Bavarian State Chancellery. The working session focused on EU competitiveness, energy policy, migration, the development of transport infrastructure, and the further strengthening of Czech-German cooperation.
Prime Minister Andrej Babiš emphasised that the Czech Republic and Bavaria are linked by deep economic integration and a shared interest in ensuring Europe remains a formidable player in global competition. During the meeting, he extended an invitation to Minister-President Söder to visit Prague.
"I presented our plan to bolster European competitiveness to Mr Söder, specifically our proposal to reform the ETS 1 emissions trading scheme. On the issue, we are firmly in the same boat," stated Prime Minister Andrej Babiš.
The leaders also discussed collaboration in high-tech sectors, including Artificial Intelligence, in which Bavaria has already invested €6 billion.
"The Free State of Bavaria is a vital partner for us. We are keen to collaborate in the field of AI, which is of paramount importance to our future," the Prime Minister added.
Both parties agreed that the closure of nuclear power plants was an ill-advised decision. Consequently, both sides confirmed their interest in cooperating on the development of Small Modular Reactors.
"Transport also featured prominently on the agenda of the meeting. Prime Minister Babiš highlighted the persistent inadequacies in both road and rail connectivity between the two countries. He recalled that during his previous administration, 100 kilometres of motorways were opened after a 32-year hiatus, and expressed his expectation that the motorway from Prague to Karlovy Vary would be completed by 2029 at the latest. The Czech side also requested that Bavaria invest in an approximately 20-kilometre connecting link on German territory.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister thanked Markus Söder for his assistance in ensuring the return of illegal waste from the Czech Republic to Germany.
Migration was also addressed. Prime Minister Babiš reaffirmed the need for effective protection of the EU's external borders, a rigorous returns policy, and an end to illegal migration.
"Without a functional migration policy, Europe cannot operate in the long run. We need actual solutions, not more bureaucratic proposals," the Prime Minister stated, adding that a key objective must be the stabilisation of Syria to ensure it becomes a safe country.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to bolstering Czech-German commercial ties—vital for small and medium-sized enterprises—alongside the development of cross-border regions and projects spanning transport, the labour market, and emergency management. Prime Minister Babiš also expressed the Czech Republic's interest in funding the next term of the Czech-German Fund for the Future.
"Bavaria remains one of the Czech Republic’s most critical economic partners. There is immense potential to further develop joint projects that deliver tangible results for people on both sides of the border," the Prime Minister concluded.
