Minister of Finance for the ANO movement Alena Schillerová recently took part, together with other ministers and prime ministers of both countries, in a joint meeting of the Czech and Slovak governments. The first such meeting took place in 2012 and had been held annually until the tradition was interrupted in recent years by the government of Petr Fiala.
What is your impression of this first joint meeting of the Czech and Slovak governments after a three-year break?
The Czech Republic and Slovakia are close partners not only historically, but also economically. Our cooperation is crucial for addressing current challenges in a way that benefits the everyday lives of our citizens. From my perspective, this meeting was highly practical and concrete. It was not a formal gathering, but an open debate on issues we are actively dealing with – from energy and public finances to supporting economic growth. This direct exchange of views among ministers is irreplaceable.
What shared priorities do the two governments currently have?
The shared priorities are absolutely clear and stem from what concerns citizens the most – above all addressing the energy crisis and its impact on prices and living costs. We are convinced that without these steps, national budgets will come under enormous pressure and support for industry and households will become unnecessarily expensive. We also place strong emphasis on regional cooperation, whether within Central Europe or in relation to Germany and Austria. Ensuring energy and oil flows is key, for example through the TAL pipeline, as well as making full use of refinery capacities in the region, which directly affects fuel prices and energy security.
What did you agree on with your counterpart, Slovak Minister of Finance Ladislav Kamenický?
We focused primarily on deepening cooperation in combating tax evasion and the shadow economy. We agreed that it is necessary to further strengthen the exchange of information between our financial administrations and to share practical experience with tools that have proven effective. At the same time, we addressed broader economic issues – how to support the stability of public finances and create conditions for healthy economic growth in the current situation. Our economies are very closely interconnected, which makes coordination and the search for joint solutions entirely logical. An important topic was also shared priorities at the European level. In this area, we have long held similar positions, for example on preserving the right of veto in tax matters, which we consider essential for safeguarding the tax sovereignty of member states.
April 1 marked one hundred years since the establishment of the National Bank, which supervises the financial market in our country. How did the celebrations take place?
The centenary celebrations of the Czech National Bank were held at its headquarters in a formal and highly dignified atmosphere. For me personally, it was above all an opportunity to recognize the importance of the central bank as a stable pillar of the Czech financial system and to recall its hundred-year mission in serving economic stability and public trust.
Does the Ministry of Finance have good relations with the central bank?
I personally consider the relationship between the Ministry of Finance and the Czech National Bank to be very good and, above all, professional. The CNB is an independent guardian of price stability, a guarantor of trust, and a pillar of the economy in times of growth as well as uncertainty. I view our cooperation as constructive and substantive, particularly in the areas of responsible economic policy, realistic management of public finances, and the fight against inflationary pressures. At the same time, it is clear that there are areas where we can achieve even better results together. One of them is the careful management of the state’s liquidity – the ability to meet all obligations in full and on time. This is a shared challenge we want to continue working on with the CNB. Our goal is also to increase the efficiency of how public funds are managed. Significant volumes of funds currently sit in the accounts of municipalities and regions without being fully engaged in the economy. We therefore want to motivate local governments to place a greater share of their funds in accounts with the CNB. I believe this will strengthen stability, trust, and the performance of the Czech economy – without which no country can develop sustainably in the long term.
Is this cooperation also related to the planned bonds?
The development of public debt was naturally one of the topics we discussed with our Slovak counterparts. It is a key area for both countries, and sharing experience in debt management and state financing is highly beneficial. However, you are probably referring to the upcoming Republic Bonds, which we are once again preparing under the Ministry of Finance. They will be very attractive for citizens, and I believe there will be strong demand, as we are already seeing significant public interest. Our goal is to offer citizens a safe and appealing way to invest their savings while also strengthening domestic financing of the state debt. If the state borrows, I see no reason why only foreign banks should profit from interest and why Czech citizens should not have this opportunity.
When will the bonds be available?
At this point, I can reveal that there will be three types of bonds, and all of them will be very attractive. Citizens are already familiar with the classic fixed-rate and inflation-linked bonds from 2018. The first issuance will take place before the summer holidays, and the second in the autumn. I will present all the details at a press conference in mid-May.
How is the announced KOBRA initiative, aimed at tackling undeclared work, progressing?
The KOBRA 26 project, as we have called this initiative, was launched very quickly and without unnecessary delays. In March, we signed a memorandum of cooperation between all participating institutions – from the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, and the Ministry of the Interior to the Financial Administration, Customs Administration, Financial Analytical Office, State Labour Inspection Office, Czech Social Security Administration, and the Police of the Czech Republic. Importantly, it did not remain just a formal document. Coordinated joint inspections began almost immediately after the memorandum was signed, and the system is already fully operational. The connection between different parts of the state and the sharing of information is, in my view, the key to being truly effective in combating undeclared work. The results achieved so far confirm that we are on the right track, and we will soon present them in detail.
Iran and fuel prices
“For me, it was essential to work with precise data, which is why we also relied on close cooperation with the state-owned company ČEPRO,” says Alena Schillerová. “We responded with a concrete measure, and from April 8 we introduced caps on margins to prevent excessive price increases at certain fuel stations, especially along key motorway routes. This step has proven to be the right one and the measure is fulfilling its purpose. However, we decided to go even further. The government approved the Act on Fuel Price Regulation, which will give the state a stronger constitutional and legislative tool in times of crisis. Specifically, it will allow for action through government decrees instead of the current requirement to issue general measures. Combined with tax instruments, this will enable us to mitigate the impact of global fluctuations on households and businesses more effectively. Our priority is to ensure that this robust system is available not only to our government, but to any future administration, and that market developments have as little impact as possible on everyday life and the functioning of the economy.”
CV BOX
Alena Schillerová (born March 18, 1964, in Brno) is the Minister of Finance for the ANO 2011 movement.
She obtained a law degree from Masaryk University in Brno. She went on to work at the Brno-venkov District Financial Office, later becoming the director.
She served as deputy minister of finance for taxation and tariffs, starting in 2016. In 2017, she was appointed Minister of Finance, which was a position she held until the 2021 elections. She has been a Vice-Chair of ANO 2011 since February 2022.
Following the success in the 2025 elections, she is once again head of the Ministry of Finance.
ad
