Jozef Síkela | |
|---|---|
 Síkela in 2023 | |
| Minister of Industry and Trade | |
| Assumed office 17 December 2021 | |
| Prime Minister | Petr Fiala |
| Preceded by | Karel Havlíček |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 June 1967 Rokycany, Czechoslovakia |
| Political party | Independent (nominated by Mayors and Independents) |
| Alma mater | Prague University of Economics and Business |
| Occupation | Politician, investor, manager |
Jozef Síkela (born 17 June 1967) is a Czech politician and investment banker who has served as Czech Minister of Industry and Trade in Petr Fiala's Cabinet since December 2021.[1][2]
Political career
[edit]Minister of Industry and Trade
[edit]In November 2021, following the resignation of Věslav Michalik, Síkela became the new candidate of the Mayors and Independents (STAN) for the post of Czech Minister of Industry and Trade in the emerging government of Petr Fiala (a coalition of SPOLU and PirSTAN).[3][4] He was appointed to this post in December 2021 by Czech President Miloš Zeman at the castle in Lány.[5]
During Síkela's tenure as Minister of Industry and Trade, the Czech Republic passed legislation aimed at developing renewable energy sources, designed to simplify the permit process for new sources and to allow their efficient use. This included the Community Energy Act, which enabled the sharing of surplus self-generated electricity from renewable sources,[6] and was awarded the Business Law of the Year in 2024.[7] The community energy system was launched in August 2024.[8] His ministerial tenure also saw the Czech Republic move away from dependence on Russian gas imports, partially via the acquisition of a share in the LNG terminal in Eemshaven, Netherlands, in cooperation with the ČEZ Group, which Sikela announced in July 2022.[9] In November 2023, the government announced that, again in collaboration with the ČEZ Group, it had acquired a stake in an LNG terminal in Stade, Germany. Síkela represented the Czech Republic at the ceremonial launch of the construction of the terminal.[10]
European level
[edit]When the Czech Republic held the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2022, Síkela chaired ministerial meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council, the Competitiveness Council (COMPET) and the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council,[11][12] while the latter was coordinating the EU's response to disruption on the energy markets due to the War in Ukraine. With Síkela chairing the meetings, EU member states agreed on key measures that helped stabilize the energy markets.[13]
In June 2023, Síkela stated in an interview with the daily Právo that he was interested in seeking the position of European Commissioner.[14] Following the 2024 European elections, Síkela was nominated by the Czech government to this role, to serve under President Ursula von der Leyen.[15]
References
[edit]- ^ McEnchroe, Thomas (17 November 2021). "Zeman to name Petr Fiala prime minister next Friday". Radio Prague. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ "Jozef Síkela". Government of the Czech Republic. December 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
- ^ Rambousková, Michaela. "Ministrem průmyslu má být bývalý bankéř Jozef Síkela". Seznam Zprávy (in Czech). Retrieved 3 October 2023.
- ^ "Starostové a nezávislí navrhují na ministra průmyslu a obchodu úspěšného manažera Jozefa Síkelu". Mayors and Independents (in Czech). Retrieved 3 October 2023.
- ^ Jadrná, Anna (17 December 2021). "Zeman jmenoval novou vládu. Podívejte se na seznam těch, kteří povedou jednotlivá ministerstva". Czech Radio (in Czech). Retrieved 3 October 2023.
- ^ https://www.novinky.cz/clanek/ekonomika-senat-dal-komunitni-energetice-zelenou-40454906
- ^ https://www.hrot24.cz/clanek/zakon-roku-pro-byznys-novela-ktera-v-cesku-zavede-komunitni-energetiku-preslapem-je-regulace-dohodaru
- ^ https://www.mpo.gov.cz/cz/rozcestnik/pro-media/tiskove-zpravy/komunitni-energetika-odstartovala--zajemci-o-sdileni-elektriny-se-mohou-registrovat-u-elektroenergetickeho-datoveho-centra--282389/
- ^ https://ct24.ceskatelevize.cz/clanek/ekonomika/nizozemsky-lng-terminal-zacne-fungovat-nejspis-v-polovine-zari-zajisti-tretinu-ceske-spotreby-18172
- ^ https://www.idnes.cz/ekonomika/domaci/lng-plyn-terminal-stade-cez.A240627_154041_ekonomika_hyk
- ^ Abnett, Kate (9 September 2022). "Czech minister sees EU deal on emergency liquidity for energy firms". Reuters.
- ^ Abnett, Kate (13 December 2022). "EU aims to close deal on gas price cap on Monday, Czech minister Sikela says". Reuters.
- ^ "Češi se při předsednictví ukázali jako dříči a slaví úspěchy, píše list". iDNES.cz (in Czech). Mafra. Czech News Agency. 20 December 2022.
- ^ Síkela, Jozef. "Síkela: Chtěl bych být eurokomisařem". Novinky.cz (in Czech). Interviewed by Martin Procházka. Borgis. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
- ^ Moens, Barbara (24 July 2024). "Who will be the next European commissioners?". Politico Europe. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
Current members of the Czech Cabinet | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
Cabinet of Prime Minister Petr Fiala (2021–present) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Finance Minister |  | |
| Minister of the Interior | ||
| Minister of Labour and Social Affairs | ||
| Minister of the Environment | ||
| Minister for Regional Development | ||
| Minister of Defence | ||
| Minister of Industry and Trade | ||
| Minister of Health | ||
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | ||
| Minister of Justice | ||
| Minister of Transport | ||
| Minister of Education, Youth and Sport | ||
| Minister of Culture | ||
| Minister of Agriculture | ||
| Minister in the Government Office Chairman of the Government Legislative Council | ||
| Minister for Science and Research (in the Government Office) | ||
| Minister for European Affairs (in the Government Office) | ||
 | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
