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Roma discrimination in the CR is getting worse, says UN report. Czech governement disagrees
High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay on 4 March presented her annual report to the Human Rights Council. She said that discrimination rate against Roma in the CR is getting worse. Czech human rights minister disagrees
Elections could "strengthen extremes" in Central Europe
Forthcoming elections could strenghten the extremes in Central Europe, polls show. The exception is Czech Republic, which has recently outlawed the far-right party.
Obama promised wonders, experts indicated
Barack Obama enters the second year of his presidency. The first one was strongly afflicted by the financial crisis which made president focus on domestic affairs and non-European actors. Whether has Obama met the expectations of milions of people, was a subject of the expert discussion in Prague´s American center.
EU funds bring cross-border regions closer
Since the Czech Republic joined the European Union in 2004, its regions have started to benefit from generous cash handouts from the EU"s regional policy budget. Common projects with the country"s neighbours mostly cover tourism, infrastructure, environment and cultural contact.
Czech Roma most discriminated minority in the EU, FRA report claims
European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) published a report evaluating minorities´ situation in member states. Report is based on interviews with nearly 23 thousand of immigrants and members of minorities. Document says that the most discriminated minority in the EU are Roma in the CR.
Public institutions owe 180 billion euro to business
EU businesses complained that at the time of drop of demand caused by the economic crisis firms often suffer from late payments by public institutions. Governments do not need to create any specific stimulation packages, they should rather pay in due time, firms say. Czech Republic is not an exception in this regard.
Business condemns lobbying regulation
Czech business groups and center-right deputies condemned a proposal that aimed at setting standards for regulation of lobbyists prepared by Social Democrats (ČSSD). Among others, they criticised a part of the proposal that would require politicians to inform of every contact with potential lobbyist.
Business: State should cut costs and lay off workers
Mirek Topolánek, a leader of right-center civic democrats (ODS) supported requirements of entrepreneurs who called for more effective public administration. Czech businesses call also for a new export strategy aimed at small and medium sized entreprises.
According to Czech Statistical Office there is twice as much male entrepreneurs as female entrepreneurs. But in fact, the difference is much bigger. What are the reasons for such imbalances? EurActiv asked Helena Cetlová and Lenka Šťastná, members of two associations of female entrepreneurs.
Will EU share AH1N1 vaccines with us?
EU ministers for health will discuss mutual cooperation as regards innoculation against AH1N1, including vaccine sharing. However, the issue will most probably show reluctance among those EU countries who ordered markedly higher volume of vaccines than others.
First vaccines should go to chronically ill, pregnant women and medical personnel
EU Health Security Committee issued a statement identifying groups of people that should be prioritised in vaccination against H1N1 virus. However, statements of the body are non-binding.
Swine flu in Europe - the calm before the storm?
Experts concluded that virus H1N1 virus will continue spreading out, probably even faster than in the past. According to the European Center for Diseases Prevention and Control, another 491 people were found infected by the virus within last 24 hours.
Commission calls for smoking ban by 2012
European Commission published a proposal calling on national governments to adopt legislation that would protect EU citizens from exposure to cigarette smoke. Tobacco still ranks among the major cause of diseases in the EU.
Analyst warn against rich Europe without influence
Merkel: Fall of Berlin Wall helped Europe to take on "challenges of our time"
Does the EU solve effectively the problem of socially excluded Roma people?
EU Platform for Roma Inclusion whose aim is to support Roma inclusion into the majority population in the EU countries met 28 September for the second time. Experts on Roma issues criticised mostly policies focused on Roma population as well as separation of support programmes for these people from other social programmes.
Unemployment raised to 8.5 percent in August in the Czech Republic, the most in the last three and half year, but slowed down in comparison to previous months. Updated numbers by the Czech Statistics Office showed the yearly shrink of the economy by 5.5 percent. Business representatives did not attempt to hide their disappointment.
EU welcomes normalisation of Turkey - Armenia relations
Turkey and Armenia expressed their will to restore mutual diplomatic relations and open the border that has been closed since 1993. Swedish Presidency and Javier Solana welcomed the deal.
Czech TSO to strengthen security
Czech and Slovak energy markets were interconnected as of 31 August 2009 easing life for energy traders. Apart from that, all the TSOs in Central Europe are, from the beginning of August, able to access actual information on energy production at wind farms in Germany. The measure is aimed at enhancing security of electricity transmission in the region.
NATO chief urges Turkey, Greece to end scuffle
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has called on Greece and Turkey to improve their relations, saying ongoing tensions between the two countries are endangering NATO and EU missions in Afghanistan and Somalia by putting ground troops at risk.
Germany sees rebound, Czech business still with low expectations
German statistics office confirmed preliminary numbers issued in mid August. Data showed that after months of falling the economy grew in second quarter of 2009. However, experts warn that while the news is positive, growth in the range of 0,3 percent cannot be seen as substantial and its viability will become clear only after effect of stimulus measures has fade away.
Germany"s biggest solar park inaugurated
Second biggest solar powerplant was inaugurated in former military training ground in Brandenburg. Money the state will get from the power company during the next 20 years in a form of rent should help reconstructing he area that is set to become a natural preserved area once the leasing contract has finished.
Experts believe in fast economic recovery
Since the world economic climate indicator marked the growth in the second quarter, most of the experts assume that upcoming months could bring recovery in the world economy. However, some experts warn that after the influence of stimulus packages has waned another fall may come.
Twenty die in Caucasus suicide bombing
At least twenty people died and 138 were wounded in yesterday"s suicide bombing in Nazran, Ingushetiya. Suicide attacks are destabilising region that is getting on the brink of civil war. Terrorist attac was immediately condemned by both EU and the US.
Industrial production down by 0.6% in euro area
Industrial production fell in June, on a monthly basis, by 0.6 percent in eurozone and 0.2 percent in the whole EU. Estimates from Eurostat disappointed most of the experts as May data indicated moderate recovery. Economic experts expect modest growth in industrial production in upcoming months but at the same time warn that another slump could come by the end of the year.
Ukrainian energy giant Naftogaz paid Russian Gazprom for July gas supplies disproving the recent speculations that it might face a lack of money. Yet, the company is still deep in debts and Ukrainian government announced the plan to „restructure“ its debts prompting fears among foreign investors.
Germany scrapping scheme helps criminals
Germany"s scrapping car scheme aimed at helping the Germany car industry hit by the financial and economic crisis has been allegedly misused by criminals who resell cars that should have been officially scrapped under the scheme to buyers in Eastern Europe. Up to 50,000 cars could end up abroad, police officials say.
Moscow praises EU mission in Georgia
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov praised the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia as the „most serious stabilising factor“ responsible for keeping peace in a problematic region.
Tensions rise between Russia and Georgia ahead of war anniversary
Tensions are on a rise between Russia and Georgia almost year after the conflict. During weekend, Georgian authorities accused Moscow from attempts to penetrate Georgian territory. Moscow, on the other hand, accused Tbilisi of firing mortars at the breakaway region of South Ossetia.
CEZ upgrades nuclear plant in Temelin
Czech energy giant ČEZ announced a tender for building up two blocks of Temelín nuclear powerplant. Yet, whether the plans of ČEZ will be accomplished remains unclear. The company must wait for the result of environment impact assessment and blessing from the government. The plan was immediately condemned by green groups.
Eurostat: Unemployment of young people grows faster
European statistics office released the most recent data last week on unemployment in both eurozone and the whole EU. Numbers showed that unemployment in eurozone is 0.5 percentage points higher than in the the EU-27. Unemployment of younger people (15-24) marked the biggest growth on a yearly basis – from 3.7 percent to 18.3 in 2009.
Ukraine reach deal on gas reform, aid
European Commission announced the deal that will help Ukraine pay for supplies of natural gas. The deal is seen as a safeguard against possible interuptions of future gas supplies in the EU. The question is whether $1.7 billions is enough to fill up the country"s storage facilities.
AIA: Medvedev"s initiative suspicious for EU countries
Russian president recently came up with a new „Medvedev"s initiative“ which represents an attempt of the country to create a new security infrastructure in Europe and to replace the current set-up based upon the UN, NATO, EU, OSCE and Council of Europe. However, most of the EU countries remain sceptical towards the proposal, expert from Association for International Affairs said.
EU ministers backed Czech Republic in visa dispute
EU foreign ministers backed the Czech Republic yesterday in her attempt to remove visa duty for Czechs travelling to Canada. Czech government, however, does not contemplate on adopting strict measures such as introducing Schengen visa for Canada as it does not wish to cause any crisis to mutual relations.
Comission earmarked 70 milion euros for Neighbourhood
European Commission yesterday agreed to assign 70 million euros in 2009 to Neighbourhood Investment Facility. Using this money, partner countries should be able to attract additional funding for investment projects.
Eastern Partnership remains a priority of the Czech foreign policy
Launching the Eastern Partnership project was among the top priorities of recent Czech Presidency. Government committee for the EU yesterday confirmed that the Czech Republic should be active in this field also in the future.
Shock for Czech diplomacy, visas with Canada became reality
Despite all the assurances from Czech foreign minister Jan Kohout that Canada will not impose the visa on the Czech nationals, the country was hit by surprise today. Visa-free regime was terminated for Czechs as a step to end „misusing“ liberal Canadian asylum system by Czech, mostly Roma, people.
