Prime Minister Petr Nečas’ (Civic Democrats, ODS) government may be uncertain what direction to take the Czech state-owned oil pipeline operator Mero and oil products storage company and processor Čepro — both of which are strategic and highly profitable energy-sector assets — but foreign refiners MOL (Hungary), Lukoil (Russia) and PKN Orlen (Poland) are keenly aware of the benefits of integration.

The long-running eco-tender to clean up much of the Czech Republic’s serious pollution legacy should be stopped in its tracks, the Czech branch of corruption watchdog Transparency International said Tuesday. The anti-corruption group is calling for the government to open the three bids submitted a day earlier — but declare no winner — so that the country will not be slapped with another expensive arbitration case.

Reports Monday by the Czech daily Lidové noviny that Czech power giant ČEZ faced a widened European Commission probe into suspected anti-competitive practices was negative news for the company, according to Czech analysts. But the state-controlled company sought to remedy damage later saying the paper had put out a false report and no such step has been taken or is envisaged.

Almost everyone, its seems, has a take on how to manage the Czech Republic's biggest tract of forest, the Šumava National Park. Local mayors, environmentalists, current park management, and local inhabitiants all appear to be being given a say following clashes between loggers and protesters. The one exception is the bark beetle itself. Czech Position sought to remedy the situation and provide some enlightenment about the debate.