Germany's €49 Ticket

Germany launched its new Deutschlandticket, or D-Ticket, as the successor to its €9 ticket.

The new €49 ticket began on 1 May, and it's a monthly subscription fee for travel, all across the country.  It is good for all:

• local and regional buses
• trams
• metros
• S-Bahn trains
• regional trains (RB/RE)

Travel is valid for second class but you may purchase first-class upgrades.  Children under 6 can travel for free.  Separate tickets are required for pets and bicycles.

The ticket can't be used for ICE, IC, or EU trains, or long-distance buses.  

The D-Ticket seems like it would be a good deal if, I lived in Germany as a monthly subscription, or if I was going to be travelling around Germany for a couple of weeks.  I loved the €9 ticket but I don't see me buying the €49 ticket.

I still have my Czech In-Karta, which costs 990 Kč ($50) every three years and gives me 25% of train tickets and 50% off seat reservations.  The only difference now is that I don't have a physical card; it's just an app on my phone.

Here are a couple of short YouTube videos I found about the new ticket.

©France24

©DW Travel

Update January 2025:  The €49 ticket has now increased to €58.

Update October 2025:  Due to inflation, as of January 2026 the ticket will cost €63 a month.

Croatia Joins Eurozone & Schengen

New Year's Day was a big day for Croatia.  It officially joined both the Eurozone and Schengen.

When the country joined the EU back in 2013, it had to commit to eventually replacing its currency, the kuna, with the Euro.  But then again, Czechland joined the EU in 2004 and still hasn't switched.

Croatia is now the 20th member of the Eurozone and the first country to join since Lithuania back in 2015.

Here are a couple of short YouTube videos out there about Croatia adopting the Euro.

©EuroNews

©The EU Made Simple

Croatia also joined Schengen becoming a member of the world's largest visa free zone.  The thing about joining Schengen, or the EU, or NATO, is that every single member has to agree.  Heck, it's hard enough trying to get four friends to agree on a particular restaurant.  Much less trying to get 26 different countries to agree on something.  Yet, back in December, every member country agreed to let Croatia join.

However, the Netherlands blocked Bulgaria, while Austria blocked both Bulgaria and Romania.

©France24

With Croatia in the Schengen club, there are now 27 members.  So whenever it comes time for Bulgaria and Romania to try again, they will also need Croatia to agree as well.

Czechs Ban Russian Tourists

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Czech Republic was the first EU country to stop issuing visas to Russian citizens except for humanitarian cases.  Czechland is now stepping things up and as of 25 October, that even with a valid Schengen visa, Russian citizens will not be allowed in the country for tourism, sport or culture.  It's not clear if Russian citizens, with a valid visa, will be granted entry for business purposes.

Citizens of Russian that have a valid Czech residency visa will still be granted entry.

Vladimir Putin's announcement of partial mobilisation has caused many people to try to leave Russia before they are drafted to fight in Ukraine.  People fighting the Russian government or human rights activists are among the exceptional cases that qualify for a humanitarian visa.  The Czech Foreign Minister, Jan Lipavský, has said that Russians who fear mobilisation don't fulfil the conditions for a humanitarian visa in Czechland.  

The European Commission says that it is up to each EU country to decide if they will accept Russian citizens in to their country.  Finland, Poland, and the Baltic countries
- Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, like Czechland, don't grant asylum to people fleeing Russian military mobilisation.  However, Germany will allow Russians fleeing military conscription. 

Here's a short video that I found on YouTube about Estonia not issuing visas to Russians.

©France24

Here's a Voice of America interview with the Czech Foreign Minister on the subject.

©Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Я за Україну. Я за Україною. Слава Україні  Stojím za Ukrajinou!  I stand with Ukraine. 

Eurocorps

My 2000th blog post.  I can't believe that I've been at this for over 13 years or that people still seem interested in my Czechland adventure.  Thank you to everyone who continues to follow along.

Eurocorps is a European army, of about 60.000 troops, that can be deployed on very short notice.  It was founded in 1992 by France and Germany and it went operational in 1995.  This month it celebrates its 30th anniversary.  Eurocorps' headquarters are in Strasbourg, France.
Eurocorps is at the service of the EU and NATO and in 2002, it was certified as one of NATO's nine High Readiness Land Headquarters.  Eurocorps considers requests for support from the UN and OSCE.  It can also be deployed at the request of the framework nations.

There are six framework nations - France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, and Poland.  

Any EU country can join with the unanimous approval of the framework countries.  There are also five associated nations - Austria, Greece, Türkiye, Italy, and Romania. 

Finland was an associated member from 2002 - 2006 and Canada was from 2003 - 2007.  Czech Republic isn't a member but I believe that they have participated is some military exercises with Eurocorps in the past.  I'm not aware of Czechland having any plans to join. 

Eurocorps has participated in peacekeeping missions in the Balkans as part of SFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina and KFOR in Kosovo.  It was deployed to Afghanistan as part of the UN's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).  It's even been deployed to Africa as part of EU training missions in Mali and the Central African Republic.

Poland became the newest framework member this year in January.  From 2023-2025, a Polish general will take command of Eurocorps.  With all of the support Poland has given Ukraine during the Russian invasion, I'm sure that Russia isn't thrilled with Poland soon to lead Eurocorps.

What's interesting to me Austria and Türkiye being associate members.  Türkiye is a member of NATO but not the EU so until it actually becomes an EU member, if ever, then it can't be one of the framework nations.  Austria's constitution prohibits it form entering into military alliances.  So I guess that by being an associate member it can participate in Eurocorps without violating its constitution, in the same way that it is a member of NATO's Partnership for Peace programme without being a NATO member.

Here's a France24 video I found on YouTube from 2009 that talks about Eurocorps.

©France24

EU vs. Internal Combustion Engines

Tomorrow is the beginning of Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union.  The EU has a Green Deal goal of climate neutrality by 2050.  This means that action is required now as 20% of the EU's CO² emissions comes from road transportation.  The European Commission has proposed that as of 2035, all new cars and vans should yield zero emissions.  It's been approved by the European Parliament.  The finalisation of the new rules will be negotiated during the Czech EU presidency.

©France24

Škoda is the largest employer in Czechland.  All of the company's Czech plants already make electric cars or components.  In 2019, it introduced the Citigo-e iV, its first electric car.  By 2030, Škoda wants 50-70% market share of all-electric car sales in Europe.

Hyundai has a factory in Nošovice.  In 2020, they started producing the Kona Electric and they also want a big piece of the European electric car market.

Toyota is the country's third-largest automaker with a factory in Kolín.  The Kolín factory currently produces two models, both with internal combustion engines.  The company wants all of its luxury cars running on electric by 2030 in Europe, North America, and China.  All of its cars should be running on electric by 2035.

The EU has also proposed legislation that will require public charging points no more than 60 km (37 miles) apart from each other on major roads by 2025.  The outlook is for 3,5 million public charging stations by 2030 and 16,3 million by 2050.

Update:  On 26 August, legislation passed that all new vehicles sold in California by 2035 must be either electric or electric hybrids.

©France24

Pride Month and Ukraine

Happy Pride Month!  June is LGBT Pride Month in the USA and it honours the 1969 Stonewall riots which is considered the birth of the Gay Rights Movement.  This is when you see the majority of Gay Pride events worldwide.  Although pride events are held outside of June as well.  For example, it is way too hot in Atlanta in June so Atlanta Pride takes place in October, when it is cooler, on the weekend closest to 11 October which is National Coming Out Day.

Due to the war in Ukraine, Kyiv Pride won't take place this year in Kyiv.  Instead, Ukrainians will participate in Pride events in other cities like Riga and Warsaw.  

Here's the legal status for the LGBT community in Ukraine.  When it comes to LGBTQ equality, Ukraine ranks 39th in Europe.  Czechia comes in at 32.

The Criminal Code in the Soviet Union banned same-sex relations.  The law was changed in 1991 following Ukraine's independence.  So now's it not illegal to be gay but there's plenty of prejudice especially coming from the Orthodox Church and LGBTQ people lack many legal rights.

Article 51 of the Ukrainian Constitution defines marriage as voluntary union between a man and a woman so gays have no option for marriage or even any type of civil union.  President Volodymyr Zelensky is looking at civil partnerships but this would require a change to the constitution which can't be done while the country is under martial law.

Aside from not being able to marry, or adopt, gays and lesbians in Ukraine do not have a right to inheritance, hospital visitations or to make medical decisions for an ill partner.  

Discrimination in the workplace was banned in 2015.  

In 2016 the law was changed now allowing gay and bisexual men to donate blood.

Being trans is classified as a psychiatric disorder.  

Same-sex couples are not allowed to adopt because of Clause 211 of the Family Code.  This applies to foreign adoptions as well and only married heterosexual couples are allowed to adopt children from Ukraine.

In 2013, Russia passed its "gay propaganda" law and since then hate crimes against the LGBT community have soared.  Gay Ukrainians don't want similar legislation passed in Ukraine if Russia should win the war.

Under Ukrainian law, all able-bodied male citizens, ages 20-27, must server one year in the army or 18 months in the navy.  After serving on active duty, they become part of the inactive reserve and can be called up for mobilisation until they reach age 55 for enlisted or age 60 for officers.  Homosexuality is not a reason for exemption from military service.  So it is mandatory to defend the country but not for the country to provide equal rights to those defending it.

Since same-sex relationships are not legal this impacts the LGBT community that's fighting for Ukraine right now.  Their partners will not be notified if their loved ones are killed while fighting for the country and will not be eligible for any type of survivor benefits.

Some gay soldiers serving in the Ukrainian army display military chevron with a unicorn which has become a symbol for gays and lesbians serving in the military.

Here's a Voice of America video I found out on YouTube that talks about the brave gay men and women fighting in Ukraine.

©Voice of America

Я за Україну. Я за Україною. Слава Україні  Stojím za Ukrajinou!  I stand with Ukraine. 

Update December 2022:  Here's a short France24 video I found about this on YouTube.

©France24

The European Commission

The European Commission, the EC, is the executive branch of the European Union.  The EC sits in Brussels and it is responsible for the day-to-day running of the EU.  The EC initiates new legislation as it alone has the power to propose laws for debate.  Another responsibility of the EC is to maintain that treaties are running efficiently and to police them.  Basically, the EC acts as the cabinet government for the EU.  The working languages of the EC are English, French, and German.

The commissioners are to think European as each must pledge to be independent of their home countries while acting in the general interest of the EU and not be subservient to their home countries.  There are 27 commissioners, one from each of the EU member countries.  It was 28 until the UK left the EU following Brexit.  

The path to become a commissioner seems kind of complicated.  Candidates are proposed by the Council of the European Union, based on suggestions coming from the various national governments.  Once approved by the European Parliament then they are appointed by the European Council, which isn't the same thing as the Council of the European Union. 

Here's a five minute video I found on YouTube that explains the how the European Commission works.

©Ciceroni

In December 2019, Ursula von der Leyen became the first woman to hold the presidency of the EC.  She used to be the German Defence Minister and her term is for five years.  Here's a bit about her.

                                   ©France 24

The Czech member of the European Commission is Věra Jourová.  

She is one of seven vice-presidents and she is responsible for Values and Transparency.

Update 2025:  Here's short video I found on YouTube about the European Commission.

©EU Made Simple

Possible New Public Holiday

The Czech and Slovak governments are mad at Russia.  So much so that we may get a new public holiday in Czechland.
Here's what's going on...

On 23 May, Russian state television aired a "documentary" called "The Warsaw Pact - Declassified Pages".  The programme asserted that the Warsaw Pact  invasion of Czechoslovakia to put down the Prague Spring was actually a preemptive move to protect Czechoslovakia from a NATO-backed coup.

About 137 people were killed during the invasion with another 500 seriously wounded.  Immediately after the invasion some 70.000 people emigrated with another 300.000 people leaving by 1989.

So according to Russian state television the invasion of Czechoslovakia and removal of its leader was actually done to protect the country from NATO?  Really!??  This definitely sounds like some "alternative facts."  It also seems quite unlikely given that, in December 1989, the Soviet Union, Bulgaria, East Germany, Hungary, and Poland all apologised to Czechoslovakia for the invasion.

There's also a 1993 Czech-Russian treaty that condemns "the unacceptable use of force in 1968" and the "unjustifiable persistence of Soviet troops on Czechoslovak territory."

©France24

In addition, the Russian government has proposed an amendment to its veterans' law that also states that the invasion of Czechoslovakia was intended to stop a pending coup and to stabilise the country.

In response both Czechland and Slovakia have complained to Russia for seriously distorting historical facts.

The Chamber of Deputies, the Czech lower house of parliament, is supporting a new public holiday.  So far about 90 of the 200 members of parliament support designating 21 August as "Remembrance Day of the Victims of the Invasion and Subsequent Occupation by Warsaw Pact Troops."  A bit of a long name but I'd be good with having a new public holiday. 

Update:  The government recognised 21 August as "The Day of Memory of the Victims of the 1968 Invasion and Subsequent Occupation of Czechoslovakia by Warsaw Pact Troops."  It is now a "significant day" but not a public holiday.  There are now 15 significant days on the Czech calendar which are not public holidays.

State of Qatar

The State of Qatar, دولة قطر‎  is located on the Persian Gulf in the Middle East.  Qatar is a little smaller than Connecticut.  It borders Saudi Arabia, and is across the sea from Bahrain and the UAE.  Saudi Arabia just announced a bid to build a canal on the border which will basically turn Qatar into an island nation.

Qatar is home to 2,6 million people but only 12% are Qatari citizens.  There are 2,3 million expats, mostly non-Arab, living and working in the country.  You're a Qatari citizen only if your father was a citizen.  It takes at least 20 years for a foreigner to get citizenship.

The Al Thani dynasty has ruled Qatar since 1825.  Once a part of the Ottoman Empire, it became a British protectorate and gained independence in 1971.

The country is an absolute monarchy and Islam is the official religion.  Qatar has a mixed legal system blending civil law with Sharia (Islamic law) when it comes to family and personal matters.  Political bodies and trade unions are not permitted by law.

This is not a place to be if you're gay.  Homosexuality is illegal and is punishable by fines, up to 7 years in prison or even the death penalty.  

©Test Tube News

Arabic is the official language.  With so many expats, English is a common foreign language.

Until 1966, the Indian Rupee was used as the country's currency.  It briefly spotted the Saudi Riyal before adopting the Qatar and Dubai Riyal.  In 1973 the Qatari Riyal became the official currency and it is pegged to the U.S. Dollar.

Due to having the world's third-largest natural-gas reserves and oil reserves, Qatar is a very rich country.  It has the highest per capita income in the world.

Qatar is home to the Al Jazeera television station which opened in 1996. 

Qatar Airways is the state-owned national carrier and it began operations in 1994.  Hamad International Airport opened in 2014 and is the airline's hub which provides routes to more than 150 international destinations.  In 2013 the airline joined Oneworld.  The airline is using Doha to compete with Emirates and it's Dubai base.

Qatar is probably the most open country in the Middle East when it comes to travel.  Citizens of more than 80 countries are able to visit without needing to arrange a visa in advance.

©Al Jazeera

In 2017, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt broke diplomatic ties with Qatar.  This included closure of their seaports and airspace which makes flights in and out of Doha longer.  The countries have accused Qatar of supporting terrorism which Qatar denies.  Here are a couple of YouTube videos I found that talks about the 1-year anniversary of the blockade and the impact of the economic blockade.

©France24

©Al Jazeera

1st Czech Presidential Election

Today, Czechs go to the polls to elect a new president.  This is the first time ever.  Previously, the president was chosen by the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate because it was thought that the popularly elected president might weaken a government led by the prime minister.  The Czech President serves for a 5-year term.  The current president is Václav Klaus and he has to step down because he is finishing his second term and a third term is not permitted.

Czech President's Flag

Twenty people tried to get on the ballot but in order to become an official candidate a person needs to get 50,000 signatures or be nominate by 20 deputies or 10 senators.  Nine people qualified.  Czechs get two days to vote, this Friday and Saturday, but if no one gets more than 50% of the vote then there will be a run-off election on January 25-26 between the top two finishers.  Here are the candidates...

Jana Bobošíková is the leader of the Sovereignty party.  She used to be a journalist for Czech TV and was a member of the European parliament.  She is a Euro-skeptic and wants to restore border controls.

Jiří Dienstbier Jr., was born in the USA and holds dual citizenship.  His father was a well-known dissident.  He was a lawyer and is a senator.  He is the Deputy Chairman of the ČSSD, the Czech Social Democratic Party.  He is the youngest of all of the candidates.

Jan Fischer is an independent candidate and one of the favorites.  He was president of the Czech Statistical Office and was the Czech Prime Minister, from May 2009 to June 2010, where he led a caretaker government.  He is pretty much a moderate but is often criticized for being a member of the communist party from 1980 to 1989.  If elected, he would be the world's first popularly-elected Jewish president outside of Israel.

Táňa Fischerová is an independent candidate and a former dissident.  She is an actress, writer, television host and a civic activist.  She was a member of parliament from 2002 to 2006.  

Vladimír Franz graduated from law school but is a painter and opera composer.  He is a professor of dramatic arts in Prague and wants to bring education, culture and tolerance to politics.  He is an independent candidate and is very popular, especially with the youth.  The 53-year old is known for his extensive tattoos which cover 90% of his body, including his face.  His nickname is "Avatar" because in photos he often comes out dark blue.

Zuzana Roithová was a physician and represents the KDU-ČSL, the Christian and Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People's Party.  She was once the Minister of Health and is a former senator.  Currently she is a member of the European Parliament.

Karel Schwarzenberg is the leader of the TOP 09 party and is currently the Minister of Foreign Affairs.  He has served in the Chamber of Deputies and as a senator.  He is a prince.  I don't mean that he is a swell chap, I mean that he is a royal prince.  His full name is Karl Johannes Nepomuk Josef Borbert Friedrich Antonius Wratislaw Mena Fürst zu Schwarzenberg.  After the communists took over in 1948, his family fled the country.  He grew up in Austria but has dual citizenship with CZ and Switzerland.  He returned to Prague in 1990 after the Velvet Revolution.  He is extremely popular and always sports a bow tie.  He is the oldest candidate and, at 75, some people wonder, if elected, how long he would actually be able to serve as President.  He has been known to sleep during parliamentary sessions.  

Přemysl Sobotka was a physician before becoming a politician.  He is the candidate for ODS, the Civic Democratic Party.  ODS was founded by the outgoing president, Václav Klaus, and is the largest conservative political party in the country.

Miloš Zeman is among those with the most experience.  The hard drinking, chain smoking economist was the Prime Minister from 1998 to 2002 and led the Social Democratic Party.  He was the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies from 1996 to 1998.  In October 2209, he founded Zemanovci, the Party of Civic Rights.  He is best known for his arrogance and his belligerent rhetoric with political opponents and journalists.

By law, the candidates can spend up to 40 million Kč (~$2.08M) during the first round of elections.  In the event of a run-off, the two top candidates may spend up to 10 million Kč during round two.  Here's a quick video I found out on YouTube about the upcoming elections.

©France24