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The Czech Republic’s continued economic growth offers an opportunity to intensify its structural reforms, suggests the annual report of the European Commission, assessing the economic and social situation in EU members states. However, it also warns of increasing regional disparities, masked by the continued rise in living standards.

Just before the start of the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, Czech automobile manufacturer Škoda Auto has unveiled its new SUV model Škoda Kamiq. The brand’s third and smallest SUV is expected to hit the market in autumn this year.

The relatively high cost of mobile data in the Czech Republic has been in the headlines after a minister suggested people should consume more if they want to pay less. The prime minister is set to discuss the matter with operators and there have been suggestions that the planned arrival of a fourth operator will help customers make savings.

The Czech Republic is one of the leading countries in Europe for contactless card payments, the news site e15.cz on Friday. Last year, they carried out over one billion online payments, both in the Czech Republic and abroad.

Holding company Czech Media Invest (CMI) has sold the Polish radio station group Eurozet it acquired last year to Prague-based SFS Ventures and its Polish partner Agora in a move that has reportedly angered Poland’s ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party.

Czech textile and clothing companies have reported a growth in sales for the ninth consecutive year, the daily Hospodářské noviny wrote on Wednesday.

Czech officials are gearing up for negotiations with European Commission representatives on how much money the Czech Republic may draw from EU regional development funds in 2021-2027 and what the funds may be used for. The talks are due to begin in a fortnight’s time and the Czech Republic is the first EU member state to undergo them.

A plan to revamp the Prague-based European Global Navigation Satellite Systems Agency is being keenly followed in the Czech Republic. The move could see even more investment in the country’s space industry, which has been flourishing for several years.

Czech economic growth in 2018 slowed to 3 percent, down from 4.5 the previous year, according to data released by the Czech Statistics Office. While confidence in the economy is still high, in terms of economic growth, the Czech Republic is lagging behind the other Visegrad Group states.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs is proposing an increase in old-age pensions next year. Minister Jana Maláčová also announced on Thursday that she was drafting legislation aimed at delivering affordable housing.