Czech Economy Watch: The Czech Republic’s GDP grew 2.0% year-on-year in Q2 2026, with household spending and stronger foreign demand driving growth, while investment (gross fixed capital formation) weighed on results. Border Tech & Travel Flows: Czech police say secunet’s biometric systems for the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) cut border processing times and kept traveller experience smooth despite added workload. Business Support Reset: The new state agency CzechBusiness will merge CzechTrade and CzechInvest services from August, aiming for one contact point for innovation, investment, exports and international expansion by Jan 2027. EU Logistics Pressure: Eurostat reports EU inland waterway freight fell 3% in 2025 to 118.0bn tonne-kilometres, with Germany and the Netherlands still dominating volumes. Trade Sanctions Escalation: China retaliated against EU Russia sanctions by adding 14 EU entities to export controls, including Czech truck maker Tatra Trucks. Industry & Construction: Ferrovial’s construction order book hit a record €18bn in H1 2026, with North America the biggest share. Energy & Materials: Global coal use rose in 2025 even as some European coal generation declined, underlining continued demand in parts of Asia.