The abolition of the MMR, according to architects, would not be a step in the right direction

Prague – According to architects, the abolition of the Ministry of Regional Development (MMR) would not be a step in the right direction. Merging the ministry's agenda under a potentially newly created Ministry of Economy could endanger care for a quality and sustainable environment. This could subsequently be considered secondary at the expense of economic prosperity. This was communicated to ČTK by the chairman of the Czech Chamber of Architects, Jan Kasl. The coalition Spolu and the ANO movement have been discussing the possible abolition of the MMR before the elections. According to current polls, both political entities would be supported by the most voters in the October elections.

"The agenda of authorized architects today is divided into several sections at the MMR, and it is essential that experts who have the time and willingness to cooperate with professional organizations work here. The common goal must be to set meaningful legal rules for the performance of the profession, support quality and sustainable architecture, and the development of settlements. We consider the thoughts about abolishing the MMR to be a step in the wrong direction. The state should, on the contrary, strengthen professional debate and set fair and predictable conditions for the performance of the profession, listen to the voices of practitioners, and not forget that the quality of the environment and its sustainability are goals that exceed the horizon of a single electoral term," stated Kasl.

The planned abolition of the MMR was announced on Wednesday in the electoral program of the Spolu coalition, which consists of ODS, KDU-ČSL, and TOP 09. For instance, Zbyněk Stanjura, the deputy chairman of ODS and minister of finance, had previously spoken about the abolition of the ministry. At last year's party congress, he stated that it could be one of the steps that would help reduce bureaucracy in the Czech Republic. Karel Havlíček, the deputy chairman of the ANO movement, has also long talked about merging the MMR with other ministries, expressing a desire to transfer the agenda partially or entirely to the newly created Ministry of Economy.

However, according to Kasl, the new ministry, which would encompass several agendas essential for the development of the Czech economy, would primarily target economic benefits. While he considers this necessary, it could ultimately have a negative impact on the quality of architectural project execution. "It is precisely architecture and spatial planning that have a fundamental impact on the quality of life of residents and the resilience of society in times of climate and social challenges," added the head of the Czech architects.

On the other hand, whether the MMR merges with another ministry or changes its name is not important for municipalities and local governments. In response to a potential abolition of the ministry, the Union of Towns and Municipalities stated that it is more important for local governments to have a partner at the state level who will listen to their needs. The Czech Chamber of Authorized Engineers and Technicians in Construction (ČKAIT) expressed similar views. According to them, all agendas related to construction should be managed by one office, and it does not matter what it would be called. Engineers and technicians are concerned that the requirements for buildings and their safety are determined without mutual coordination by multiple ministries at once. They also believe that it would be good to unify, simplify, and coordinate the way public funds are spent on buildings, which make up a large part of the state budget.