<translation>Grants for the Emperor's Spa only under the condition of non-commercial use</translation>

Karlovy Vary - If the Karlovy Vary Region wants to obtain a grant for the complete reconstruction of the Imperial Baths, it must not commercially use the building for another five years. This was reported today by the governor of the Karlovy Vary Region, Jana Vildumetzová (ANO). The current project, however, anticipated that part of the space would be commercially utilized and the revenues would reduce operating costs.

The governor met with the mayor of Karlovy Vary, Petr Kulhánek (KOA), at the Ministry for Regional Development to discuss the conditions for obtaining the grant. Although the conditions are expected to be very strict, there is a possibility that it could cover most of the costs.

"The European Union was supposed to lift restrictions on the use of grants for the restoration of cultural monuments. Now, support from the European Regional Development Fund is likely to expand from small-scale infrastructure to larger projects for the restoration of national cultural monuments. This would mean that we could draw up to 85 percent of the grant from the total costs for the entire reconstruction," said Vildumetzová.

Until now, it was expected that the repair, estimated at about 500 to 600 million crowns, would be funded by 200 million from the region, 100 million from the city, and part of the money would still be obtained from the Integrated Plan for the Development of the Karlovy Vary Area. The rest was to be provided by the state. Currently, about 135 million crowns can also be obtained from the Integrated Regional Program for the restoration of the Imperial Baths.

The Karlovy Vary Region has taken on the responsibilities and obligations from the dissolved interest association Imperial Baths, and has renewed the contribution organization, which is under much stricter control of the regional council and all representatives.

"We have announced a tender for the director of the contribution organization and we plan to hold a public discussion in May, where we want to provide citizens with all the information and gather feedback on their ideas for the use of the monument," added Vildumetzová.