ČKA: Open Statement on the "Fight Against Corruption" Process

After a long, mature consideration and restraint, but following more significant stimuli from recent days, the Czech Chamber of Architects (ČKA) feels obliged to inform the public about the process of modifying legislative standards and other measures that are presented to the public as tools intended to bring about change in the unsustainable state of public procurement as well as the management of other public goods.
It does so based on long-term experience and final unmistakable knowledge from a direct participant in the process.
Therefore, it has prepared a brief introductory press conference, which it is determined to initiate the process of necessary oppositional articulation and commentary on the process, which is otherwise presented to the public as a process that will bring change and improvement.

Jan Sapák
Vice-Chairman of the Czech Chamber of Architects

THERE WILL BE NO PURIFICATION OF PUBLIC PROCUREMENT

The Czech Chamber of Architects feels obliged to inform the public about futile expectations for a breakthrough in public procurement.
Over the last two years, the ČKA has significantly intensified its initiative that sought genuine and fundamental changes in public procurement, particularly for projects in the area of public construction. In a somewhat idealistic belief, it engaged in several public debates on the topic in the hope that other partners were also pursuing the matter sincerely. It did so not only based on its legal mandate but also from a deep personal commitment and conviction about the necessity of transparent public procurement and fair competition.
In the interest of achieving the aforementioned goal, the Chamber's leadership conducted an unusually large number of personal meetings with representatives of public authority, primarily at nearly all interested ministries. Not only that – it actively participated with great enthusiasm in the discussions of the so-called “Platform for Transparent Public Procurement” and the work of the working group for amending the Public Procurement Act. For the success of this matter, and in light of the interests of individuals in decision-making positions, it has brought all its good experiences in this field. Among other things, it also repeatedly pointed out the vast difference in the number of architectural competitions (one of the most transparent processes) between practice in the Czech Republic and the situation in all countries of the "developed world".

However, now the Czech Chamber of Architects, after thoughtful consideration and evaluation of the situation, has no choice but to declare that most amendments to the Public Procurement Act prepared by the Ministry of Regional Development to initiate the legislative process are merely cosmetic changes. Unfortunately, the planned changes will not bring any progress toward clean competition and prudent management of public funds.

After experiences from recent negotiation processes, we can hardly escape the impression that the entire public articulation of the fight against corruption is merely artfully feigned. In reality, it cannot, nor is it intended to bring about any change. The Czech Chamber of Architects does not consider it purposeful to continue participating in processes that do not actually lead to the declared outcome.

The Czech Chamber of Architects will continue to strive to contribute to the much-needed change as a public professional opposition. It assumes that this will provide society with a more useful input than that achieved so far through direct involvement in unproductive negotiations.