Babiš wants to prevent the new building law, the heritage council is needed

Prague – The Czech National Committee of ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites) has reached out to Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) with an open letter requesting that he prevent the adoption of a new construction law. According to the committee, it contradicts the Prime Minister's statement and the interests of the Czech Republic in protecting its cultural heritage. President of the Czech ICOMOS Václav Girsa states that the law, during its discussion in the Chamber of Deputies, loses the protection of public interests in the area of cultural heritage care that was included in the government bill. He believes that the law would also violate international agreements to which the Czech Republic is a signatory.

"The complex amendment proposal from your government party deputy Martin Kolovratník, supported by Minister for Regional Development Klára Dostálová, essentially dismantles even the significantly limited protection of public interests in the care of our cultural heritage that was included in the government draft law submitted to Parliament," Girsa stated. He reminds that Babiš assured in March 2019 in response to concerns about the impacts of the prepared construction legislation that he was aware of the importance of monuments, including their protection.

Minister Dostálová (ANO) told ČTK today that the Ministry for Regional Development (MMR) is not responsible for individual deputies and their amendment proposals. "It is the right of deputies to submit amendments to the construction law proposal as with all other laws, and the MMR can only express its opinion on the proposals. In the overwhelming majority of submitted amendment proposals, the MMR shares the same position as the Ministry of Culture, with which we consult our stance on the individual proposals," said MMR spokesperson Vilém Frček to ČTK on behalf of Dostálová.

The Czech National Committee of ICOMOS rejected the initial draft of the new construction law, which was prepared, according to them, in direct conflict of interest by the Economic Chamber. The proposal was rejected by most of the commenting bodies, the most serious deficiencies threatening cultural heritage have, according to Girsa, been eliminated, but, for example, the comments from the Czech ICOMOS were not addressed.

The current draft of the law, which the Chamber has based on the proposal from its Economic Committee, will no longer be subject to assessment by the Government's Legislative Council, nor will it go through a commentary procedure. "Nothing else can arise in this way than a legislative mess," states Girsa. Minister of Culture Lubomír Zaorálek (ČSSD) warned at the beginning of April about changes to the construction law. What is happening with the proposal in the Chamber, according to him, raises concerns that even the minimum that was agreed upon regarding monuments and cultural heritage will disappear from the law. He also warned of the space for corruption, which he described as enormous.

Dostálová stated today that the amendment proposal of the Economic Committee, to which deputies are submitting amendments, is based on the government draft law. "And this complex amendment proposal has adopted and adhered to the agreement reached with the Ministry of Culture as the guarantor of the protection of monuments and cultural heritage. It is therefore clear that the construction law proposal truly does not open the door to any destruction of monuments," the minister claims.

"If decisions regarding monuments are made automatically, the destruction of the cultural environment will occur, and moreover, this will open unprecedented space for corruption," Girsa also believes. "If the opinions of the state heritage preservation authorities are not binding, including in protective zones, the destruction of monuments will occur. If decision-making about heritage care is integrated into building authorities, it will lead to the devastation of environments with heritage values," he stated.

The UNESCO mission and ICOMOS councils in 2019 called on the Czech Republic to inform UNESCO about the preparation of proposals for reforming the construction law in connection with impacts on heritage management. "And we have no information that the Czech Republic has informed the World Heritage Centre about the proposals from your party's deputies and ministers that will undoubtedly fundamentally weaken the protection of cultural heritage in our country," concluded Girsa.