Background information

The COVID Prague programme follows the COVID I and COVID II measures which have not included Prague region. This programme is focused on small and medium-sized businesses based in Prague only. As in case of COVID I, COVID II and COVID III programmes, the Czech-Moravian Guarantee and Development Bank (Českomoravská záruční a rozvojová banka, ČMZRB will provide guarantees for loans rendered by commercial banks (see list in Sources) and contributions to interest payments.

The call was published 20 April 2020 and opened for applicants 21 April 2020. However, after 10 minutes the entire programme was worked out and closed.

Content of measure

The total allocation of the programme, which is financed by Operational Programme Prague – Growth Pole of the Czech Republic (Operační program Praha - pól růstu) has been set at CZK 600,000,000 (€ 22,488,756 approx.).

The parameters of the guarantee are the same as for COVID II:

• SMEs may obtain a guarantee for up to 80% of the commercial credit amount,
• maximum amount of the credit covered by the guarantee is CZK 15,000,000 (€562,219 approx.)
• financial contributions to interest payments is CZK 1,000,000 (€37,481 approx.).

Guarantees will be provided for up to three years. The credit has to be used to reimburse operating expenses such as wages, rent, utilities, settlement of suppliers’ invoices etc.

Use of measure

As of 31 May 2021, 301 applications have been approved for support in the total amount of CZK 1,538,000,000 (€60,078,125).

As of 30 November 2021, 303 applications have been approved for support in the total amount of CZK 1,779,000,000 (€ 71,160,000).

In February 2022, the Ministry of Regional Development of the Czech Republic published an evaluation Analysis of the ESIF measures responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and evaluation of the ESFI. This analysis evaluates some of the COVID-19 antiepidemic measures, namely COVID I interest-free state loan, COVID II state guarantee programme, COVID III state guarantee programme, COVID Prague and Technology-COVID call within OPPIK.

This evaluation shows that the positive impact of the above mentioned antiepidemic measures cannot be yet statistically confirmed. The moratorium on debts and mortgages declared in the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic played a major role regarding the survival rate. However, in combination with the above mentioned measures, it has likely only delayed the insolvency of a number of beneficiaries. In general, no statistically significant difference in the trends of employment rates was observed when comparing supported and unsupported enterprises.

The evaluation study also have proven that the support was not strongly focused on the economic sectors that were most affected by the pandemic (tourism, HORECA, accommodation services). In general, the above mentioned measures applied were appropriate, however, should have been more targeted on most affected sectors and regions.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	SMEs	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Company / Companies	Companies European Funds National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Consulted	Consulted
Form	Consultation through tripartite or bipartite social dialogue bodies	Consultation through tripartite or bipartite social dialogue bodies

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

Social partners, which are members of the tripartite body (Council of economic and social agreement, Rada hospodářské a sociální dohody, RHSD) were informed and consulted in both formal (requested by institutional settings) and informal ways. They are not involved in the management of policy measures.

Views and reactions

Supportive.

Sources

• 20 March 2020: SP ČR: Measures taken by the government of the Czech Republic/SP ČR: Opatření vlády České republiky (www.spcr.cz)
• 20 April 2020: CMRZBD: Call for proposals/ČMRZBD: Výzva (www.cmzrb.cz)
• 20 April 2020: CMRZBD: COVID Prague Guarantee/ČMRZBD: Záruka COVID Praha (www.cmzrb.cz)
• 15 December 2020: CNB: Statistics on COVID Programmes/ČNB: Statistika o programech COVID (www.cnb.cz)
• 15 March 2021: CNB: Statistics on COVID Programmes/ČNB: Statistika o programech COVID (www.cnb.cz)
• 30 November 2021: CNB: Statistics of COVID Programmes/CNB: Statistiky COVID programů (www.cnb.cz)
• 25 February 2022: Analysis of the ESIF measures responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and evaluation of the ESFI/Analýza opatření reagujících na pandemii COVID-19 a vyhodnocení EFSI (www.dotaceeu.cz)