The competition for the new library was, according to the EC, in violation of the law

Prague/Brno - The competition for a new building for the National Library (NK) in Prague, in which architect Jan Kaplický succeeded with his controversial design, has been deemed by the European Commission to be in violation of the law. Following the Commission's opinion, the Czech antimonopoly office is likely to recommend to the library that it cancel the original competition, said Jindřiška Koblihová, the deputy chairwoman of the office, today.
The commission's opinion was requested by the Office for Protection of Economic Competition (ÚOHS). It has dealt with the dispute regarding the library several times since last year. However, each time it dismissed complaints about the illegality of the competition, stating that the architectural competition does not have to comply with public procurement law.
According to information released today by the Euro online portal, the commission has decided that UNESCO rules or those of the International Union of Architects (UIA) are not rules of an international organization that could replace procedures under current legal provisions.
Nevertheless, the antimonopoly office cannot legally cancel the architectural competition, Koblihová stated. For now, it will only issue a recommendation. "We cannot do anything more at this moment. However, if the library does not cancel the original competition and announces further subsequent tenders based on those results, we would then intervene," she added.
The ÚOHS is likely to send its opinion to the competition organizer, namely the National Library, next week, but it will also inform the Ministry of Culture.
Disputes over the new National Library have lasted over a year. The new building is supposed to solve the space issues for storing books, as the NK's management believes there will likely be a crisis in the current facilities due to a lack of space after 2010. However, construction is being hindered by issues regarding land, financing, and the legitimacy of the competition from which Kaplický's design emerged.
Additionally, according to the Minister of Culture, there is no money for the building. The budget allocates 1.9 billion crowns for the library, while Kaplický's project would cost around four billion. According to him, the project for the new library is unprepared, and attention must now be focused on the revitalization of Klementinum, where the library is currently located. However, for the management of the NK, building a new structure remains a priority.
The preparation for the construction, including the international architectural competition, cost 30 million crowns, and nearly four million more would be due to Kaplický if a contract for the implementation of his project is not signed by March 2, 2009. The Scottish city of Edinburgh has shown interest in Kaplický's building, and the architect previously indicated that some Czech cities are also interested in his project.
Currently, approximately 2.5 million volumes are stored in Klementinum, while four million volumes are stored in a depository in Hostivař. The average annual increase is around 80,000 to 100,000 volumes. The proportion of books that can be made available within hours is continually decreasing at the NK, while books stored outside of Klementinum become accessible within days.