ENTREPRENEURS MATTER.
LET’S BRING COMMON SENSE BACK TO BUSINESS.
If we have a problem, it is essential to first accept that it exists. We must admit that we are sick and need to seek medical help. Today, we are in a situation where the state regulates so much that it cannot effectively control and enforce its own regulations. I would even go so far as to say that it does not even know the exact content of all the regulations it has introduced. And that is a problem. The concept of anti-bureaucratic reform, including the draft Anti-Bureaucratic Act that we are presenting for public discussion, is not just an activist outcry, an election slogan, or a utopian idea. Our theses and proposals are based on long-term practice, from many personal experiences, and very thorough analyses.
I realise that our proposal is bold, innovative, and certainly unimaginably revolutionary for some. I know that the road to our goal will be difficult and will require courage and perseverance. It will not be easy, and it will hurt. This is nothing less than a change in thinking, a change in our habits and established practices that will be difficult to abandon. But I am convinced that it is worth it!
Zdeněk Zajíček,
President of the Czech Chamber of Commerce
and author of the anti-and bureaucratic reform
REGULATORY AND BUREAUCRATIC DETOX – A STEP TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS
WHAT IS WRONG
- Unclear regulations: The state is adding new rules, but only few understand what actually applies.
- Unnecessary paperwork: Entrepreneurs have to provide the same information to different authorities over and over again.
- Ineffective regulations: Regulations are often introduced without any real impact analysis. The result? Unnecessary restrictions that bring no benefits and only complicate life.
- Gold-plating: European directives are often transposed into Czech law in an even stricter form than required by the EU authorities themselves.
“I am convinced that it is about time to revise not only our own but also the European legal system, which has become overly complex, and to abolish many unnecessary and redundant obligations—regulations and the associated bureaucracy—without replacement.
Business in our country and in Europe is hampered by a network of obligations, stamps, and often incomprehensible regulations that reduce the success and competitiveness of entrepreneurs in today’s rapidly changing world.
Of course, we know that some regulation by the state is always necessary, which is why we want to create a system imaginary “business backpacks” in which the state puts and, I believe, gradually reduces – business obligations that are almost tailor-made for them. The goal is a predictable and stable business environment,” says Zdeněk Zajíček.
WHY WE DO IT
According to analyses, entrepreneurs in the Czech Republic spend more than 240 hours a year filling out forms, reports, and fulfilling other administrative obligations. That’s six working weeks. In other words, for a month and a half, entrepreneurs are not working for themselves, but for the state. In many cases, this is unnecessary, as they report the same information to several authorities two or three times. Often, this is information that the state already has but is unable to pass on.
For every euro of economic value created in our country, there is an administrative burden of at least 12 cents—a cost that entrepreneurs incur solely to comply with regulatory and bureaucratic obligations.
Business that creates essential value and generates revenues for the state and other public budgets—revenues that finance state-guaranteed freedoms, entitlements, and services—is considered a key pillar of the state. It represents a fundamental and unconditional value on which a healthy and functional state is built.
Only a healthy and competitive economy can create new jobs, raise the standard of living of citizens, and ensure the long-term sustainable financing of public services.
It is therefore essential to simplify bureaucratic processes to the absolute minimum, so that entrepreneurs can respond more flexibly to market opportunities and the economy can fully realise its potential.
WE HAVE A SOLUTION – THE ANTI-BUREAUCRATIC ACT
Bureaucratic detox is our comprehensive initiative that brings a specific proposal for systemic reform – The Anti-Bureaucratic Act. It introduces clear, measurable, and verifiable limits on statutory obligations. The aim is to reduce the bureaucratic burden on businesses by a quarter, simplify the legal environment, and increase our competitiveness.
The Anti-Bureaucratic Act, which is at the heart of our Bureaucratic Detox, offers a comprehensive systemic reform aimed at reducing the administrative burden on businesses. We want to introduce transparent assessments that will give businesses a clear picture of the real costs related to regulations
Before approving any new regulation, authorities will be required to publish its impact on all affected entities, thereby ensuring the principle of prevention of undesirable economic consequences. This will result in significant savings in time, energy, and money, which can be invested in development, innovation, and job creation.
A clearer and more predictable legal environment will remove uncertainty and increase confidence among entrepreneurs and investors. Ultimately, it will strengthen our competitiveness at European and global level by enabling faster market entry and a more flexible response to changes in demand or technological developments
MAIN PRINCPIPLES OF THE REFORM
We are introducing a reform that is reshaping the legal system with an emphasis on clarity, simplicity, and interconnectivity. Thanks to digitization and online tools, the administrative burden will be reduced, making it easier to do business. Join us in modernisation!
Simplicity
Clarity thanks to a mandatory overview of obligations
Transparency
Public overview of rights and obligations and their interactions
Internal interconnection
The use of new rules prevents duplication, overlap, and contradictions
Impact asessment
Calculation of the estimated impact of a legal act on businesses.
Digitalization
An online system will make it easier to fulfil obligations – clearly and without paper.
WHAT WILL THE BUSINESSES GAIN
Getting rid of unnecessary rules and red tape will let companies bring new products and services to market faster. It’ll cut down on admin costs and free up money for innovation and growth. At the same time, it’ll make customers and employees happier thanks to more efficient processes.
Less paperwork
Time and financial savings.
A clearer system
Obligations in one place, easy to find and track.
Certainty
No surprising changes without impact analysis.
Competitiveness
Less bureaucracy – more room for growth, innovation and investment.
Digital solutions
More efficient and simpler communication with the state.
Now is the right time for public administration to catch up with the digital transformation and fully align itself with the standards of the modern business environment.
Together, we will create an effective legal framework that will drive growth rather than hinder it.
