The Czech Republic is not prepared for crises and extraordinary events, claims the Supreme Audit Office

The Czech Republic is not sufficiently prepared for crises and extraordinary events, warns the Supreme Audit Office (NAO) in its annual report for last year. According to him, the responsible institutions underestimated many events, such as the covid-19 pandemic, and did not learn enough from them. Sometimes they just took formal steps without substantial results. It is likely that the state will repeat similar mistakes at critical moments, which can lead to significant damage, waste of money and endanger the health of residents, the office said.

Already last year, the inspectors came to the conclusion that the population protection system in the Czech Republic has fundamental shortcomings. According to the inspectors, people are not sufficiently informed, masks and permanent shelters are missing, with which only 3.2 percent of the population is protected. At the time, however, the Ministry of the Interior described the conclusions of the inspection as tendentious. According to the interior of the EU, the population protection system in the Czech Republic is, on the contrary, considered one of the most robust and best prepared.

Regarding the defense capabilities of the state, the authority found that the Ministry of Defense was not able to effectively use the money provided, despite its expenses repeatedly increasing. The office also sees a risk in the way the ministry has recently concluded contracts for the supply of weapons.