July 02, 2010 Vision Care Institute of Johnson&Johnson, Jungmannova 24, Praha 1
The goal of the meeting is to outline an agenda for work of the committee after the new Government takes office, be it development of position documents on health care issues or planning policy events. With any questions, please contact Iveta Havlova at ihavlova@amcham.cz or 602 736 797.
Energy Efficiency Platform - an initial meeting
June 30, 2010 AmCham offices, Dušní 10, Prague 1
The emphasis on improving energy efficiency or better use of existing energy sources is underrepresented or missing from the public debate. There are platforms focused on specific aspects in energy efficiency (for example some organizations promote energy savings specifically in buildings). However, a broad platform looking at energy efficiency in all three major areas (buildings, industry, transport) is needed to promote energy efficiency as a serious policy concern and an important aspect in: · reducing dependency on energy sources imports and thereby increasing security · making Czech economy more competitive (currently CZ economy consumes 50% more energy per CZK of GDP than EU15 countries) The “motto” of such platform could be: “Let’s talk about more energy sources only after we have done everything to make full use of the potential of existing sources”. For more view the attached letter by Ondřej Šrámek of Knauf Insulation who initiated this meeting that could lead to establishment of the Energy Efficiency Platform. Please, register on-line. With questions, contact Iveta Havlová, ihavlova@amcham.cz.
The AmCham Labor Code Committee
June 29, 2010 AmCham offices, Dušní 10, Prague 1
The committe will meet to outline an agenda for the upcoming post-election period. Two directions are proposed: 1) to review and update the AmCham existing position paper on the Labor Code - the last version was issued in March 2009 before the fall of the Government (attached), and 2) To put togethr a survey and document the main labor law related problems of business in the Czech Republic and gather information on current trends in modernizing labor codes across Europe. As the topics and discussion are traditionally very legal and often technical, the discussion is held in Czech language. You can however contact us directly with your comments in English (ihavlova@amcham.cz).
June 25, 2010 Crowne Plaza Prague Castle Hotel, Strahovská 128, Praha 1
The session follows on the first meeting of the task force on June 4 (please find minutes enclosed). The participants have agreed that comments to the working version of the guidelines (attached) plus any other suggestions be sent to ihavlova@amcham.cz by June 15. The comments are requested in Czech language. Also, the meeting is held in Czech. Please, register on-line. With any questions, contact Iveta Havlová at the above email or at 602 736 797.
Current trends in M&A transactions (presented by CMS Cameron McKenna)
June 24, 2010 AmCham offices, Dušní 10, Prague 1
Please view the attached invitation. The CMS European M&A Study 2010 provides insight into the legal provisions of M&A agreements, makes comparisons across Europe and with the US and identifies forward-looking market trends. It evaluates M&A agreements for 763 transactions relating to both non-listed public and private companies in Europe for the three-year period 2007 – 2009. More than 250 transactions relate to 2009. In this Study we analyse how the M&A market has changed after the events of September 2008. Presented by: Helen Rodwell, CEE Head of Corporate Practice Group, CMS Cameron McKenna Tomas Krutak, Head of Corporate Practice Group, CMS Prague
Task Force on Guidelines for Companies Engaged in Public Procurement
June 04, 2010 AmCham offices
Establishment of this task force was initiated by organizations engaged in the Platform for Transparent Public Procurement (www.transparentnizakazky.cz). Any company can nominate a representative into the task force. The goal of the task force is to draft short guidelines that will ensure that companies bidding in public tenders behave in a transparent way. Adherence to the guidelines will be voluntary. See the current version of the guidelines, both in Czech and English versions. Please, send us your comments in writing to ihavlova@amcham.cz by June 1. As the task force is run under the Platform for the Transparent Public Tenders, all its meetings will be held in Czech language and the Czech version of the materials would prevail. We would thus prefer also your written comments be in Czech. However, should this be more convenient to you, you can deliver them in English. With any questions, please contact Iveta Havlová at 602 736 797 or ihavlova@amcham.cz.
March 26, 2010 Hotel Yasmin, Politických vězňů 12/913, Praha 1
A discussion event featuring insolvency judges, insolvency administrators and other insolvency practitioners together with drafters of the Czech Insolvency Act and the Ministry of Justice. The event follows up a roundtable on the state of implementation of the Insolvency Act that was organized by the Chamber in November. Please see the minutes attached. As the purpose of the roundtable is to come up with a solution for further advocacy by AmCham and the space is limited, the upcoming roundtable is FOR PERSONALLY INVITED participants only. Should you be interested in attending, please contact Iveta Havlová at ihavlova@amcham.cz and check with her whether there are seats left.
March 16, 2010 Angelo Hotel Prague, Radlická 1g, Praha 5
During March, new members of the governmental Council for Research, Development and Innovations will be appointed by the Government. This is a crucial moment in implementation of the reform of the R&D adopted last year. AmCham has invited the candidates for a public discussion on the following issues: 1) Should government research policy have an over-arching goal? If so, what should that goal be, and how could it be measured? 2) How should government funding for research be structured and determined? How can government policies increase private sector investment into research? 3) How can research be better connected to university classroom in ways that improve the quality of education and the knowledge of future researchers? 1) Měla by mít vládní politika v oblasti výzkumu nějaký zastřešující cíl? Pokud ano, jaký a jakým způsobem by mělo být měřeno jeho naplňování? 2) Jakým způsobem by mělo být strukturováno financování výzkumu státem a jak by měla být určována jeho výše? Jak může vládní politika zvýšit objem investic soukromého sektoru do výzkumu? 3) Jak může být výzkum lépe napojen na vysokoškolské učebny způsobem, který zvýší kvalitu vzdělávání a znalosti budoucích výzkumníků? Please, register on-line. With any questions, contact Iveta Havlová at ihavlova@amcham.cz or 602 736 797.
Seminar "Do not be afraid to stay in the Schengen Zone!" by PWC
March 11, 2010 AmCham offices, Dušní 10, Prague 1
A new EU Community Code on Visas will come into effect as of April 5, 2010. Andrea Gruntová and Soňa Schovánková, immigration specialists of PricewaterhouseCoopers, will present on the new rights and duties it introduces, as well as refresh your knowledge of basic Schengen rules. The presentation will be complemented by practical examples.
February 25, 2010 AmCham offices, Dušní 10, Prague 1
Ministry for Regional Development is traditionally a body drafting public procurement legislation, Mr. Sixta being a head of its drafting team. At the moment, there is a substantial governmental amendment to the Act on Public Procurement debated by the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament. At the same time, Mr. Sixta and his team are already working on another draft material that would bring changes into the current regulation. He will talk about all the ministerial activities and also discuss your questions. AmCham hopes to finalize (before the event) its own position paper on how to change the law to eliminate space for corruption. If you have any additional questions, please contact Iveta Havlová at ihavlova@amcham.cz or 602 736 797.
Roundtable on Insolvency Proceedings versus Execution - IN CZECH LANGUAGE
February 19, 2010 AmCham offices, Dušní 10, Prague 1
A discussion event featuring insolvency judges, insolvency administrators and other insolvency practitioners together with drafters of the Czech Insolvency Act and the Ministry of Justice. The topic of the meeting has been raised by banks, but can be of interest to any creditor. The event follows up a roundtable on the state of implementation of the Insolvency Act that was organized by the Chamber in November. Please see the minutes attached. As the purpose of the roundtable is to come up with a solution for further advocacy by AmCham and the space is limited, the upcoming roundtable is FOR PERSONALLY INVITED participants only. Should you be interested in attending, please contact Iveta Havlová at ihavlova@amcham.cz and check with her whether there are seats left.
The Changes of US Tax Legislation and Their Impact on Czech Companies, by Deloitte Advisory
February 16, 2010 AmCham offices, Dušní 10, Prague 1
Deloitte’s tax specialists and the American Chamber of Commerce in the Czech Republic would like to invite you to a seminar called The Changes of US Tax Legislation and Their Impact on Czech Companies. The seminar is intended for financial management of Czech companies with US corporate owners and it is designed to help participants to better understand tax reporting requirements stipulated by foreign owners. The attendees may discuss their current situation with the lecturers during the seminar. The presentation will be given by foreign speakers - Marcia Doyle (US tax partner) and Andro Petrosovitch (manager) in English (no translation will be arranged).
February 04, 2010 Crowne Plaza Prague Castle Hotel, Strahovská 128, Praha 1
Mr. Němec and Ms. Kučerová will talk about 1) the Office and how it manages to attain a high level of transparency, expertise and effectiveness in their work (check also the attached measuring criteria set out in the joint project between the Office and the Chamber called "Best Regulator") and 2) on actual data protection issues. A data protection inspector will also participate - the name is to be confirmed. The event is held in Czech language. PLEASE NOTE THE LOCATION HAS BEEN CHANGED TO CROWNE PLAZA PRAGUE CASTLE HOTEL!
January 26, 2010 AmCham offices, Dušní 10, Prague 1
The chairman and the first vice-chairman of the Czech Competition Office are coming to discuss with AmCham members any issue of interest. The Chamber has gathered questions among its members and provided them to the Office. Please, see the questions attached. The event is held in Czech language.
January 21, 2010 AmCham offices, Dušní 10, Prague 1
Pavel Dvořák will come to discuss with AmCham members any issue of interest, may it be the transparency and effectiveness of the Office, an issue of the forth operator etc. The event is held in Czech language.
