Prague - The Ministry for Regional Development (MMR) sent a decision to Prague regarding the suspension of the effectiveness of Prague's building regulations. "The ministry took this step because the capital city did not rectify the situation in accordance with the ministry's call and did not take any relevant steps that would lead to such rectification," said MMR spokesperson Karel Dlabač to ČTK. Deputy Mayor Matěj Stropnický (SZ) told ČTK that he needs to familiarize himself with the reasoning. Until rectification, the nationwide building regulations apply to Prague. The ministry is also concerned that Prague did not submit the building regulations for notification to the European Commission. "Prague has been given a 15-month deadline to make rectifications, starting the day after the decision is delivered," the spokesperson stated, adding that if Prague corrects the errors, the ministry will revoke the decision to suspend the effectiveness of the regulations. The ministry decided to suspend the effectiveness of the entire regulation, with the exception of one paragraph of the transitional provisions. This means that projects prepared by September 30, 2014, under the building regulations in force at that time do not need to be adjusted according to the national building regulations due to the suspension of the new regulations; they can remain in their prepared form. Stropnický confirmed that he received the letter. "However, I need to familiarize myself with the content of the decision over the weekend. I will not comment further," he said. The Prague councilors adopted a resolution before Christmas to defend against the cancellation of the regulations legally. Whether this will be the case, Stropnický did not want to say. "I will not comment on that," he stated. Some politicians do not agree with the ministry's decision. "I cannot help but suspect that the alleged notification is merely a tool for obstruction, and its real aim is to achieve changes in already approved Prague building regulations. As a Member of the European Parliament, I can confirm that the European Commission plays a zero role in this case, as local building regulations are not subject to mandatory EU notification," stated MEP and former Prague councilor Miroslav Poche (ČSSD). The building regulations, which are implementing regulations for the Building Act, were approved last summer by the previous city council under then-Mayor Tomáš Hudeček. Before they came into effect in October, they sparked a heated debate. The billboard lobby initiated a strong media campaign against them because they disagreed with the regulation of advertising that the regulations impose. The ministry subsequently raised objections and requested modifications to the regulations from Prague.
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