Country Information

The Czech Republic is composed of three historical lands of the Czech Crown: Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia, and covers an area of 78,864 sq. km. The country is divided to 14 administrative units. The population is 10.3 million of which 1.3 million inhabitants live in Prague, the Capital of the Republic. According to its constitution the Czech Republic is a parliamentary democracy, whose head of state is a president, indirectly elected every five years by the parliament. The president is also granted specific powers such as the right to nominate Constitutional Court judges, dissolve parliament under certain conditions, and enact a veto on legislation. He also appoints the prime minister, who sets the agenda for most foreign and domestic policy, as well the other members of the cabinet on a proposal by the prime minister.

The Czech parliament is bicameral, with a Chamber of Deputies and a Senate. The 200 Chamber delegates are elected for 4-year terms, on the basis of proportional representation. The 81 members of the Czech Senate serve for 6-year terms with one-third being elected every 2 years on the basis of two-round majority voting. The country's highest court of appeals is the Supreme Court. The Constitutional Court rules on constitutional issues and its members serve for 10-year term.

On 1 February 1995 the European Association Agreement concluded between the European Communities and the Czech Republic came into force, and on 21 December 1995 the Czech Republic became a member of OECD. The harmonisation with the acquis communautaire as a part of the chapter “Free Movement of Goods” was finalised in 2002. The Czech Republic has become a full member of the EU since May 1st, 2004.