Foreign Affairs

Six Czech operational programs ‘at risk’ of losing EU funding

Staff Writer — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 11:49:36 +0000

Czech Minister for Regional Development Kamil Jankovský (LIDEM) has identified six operational programs that are “at risk” of having EU funding cut off — Transport, Environment, Research and Development, Innovation, Integration, and the North-West Regional Operational Program (ROP).

Czech police detain officials over alleged EU funds fraud

Brian Kenety — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 15:35:13 +0000

The Czech police have detained several officials working in the Northwest Regional Operational Programme (ROP) office that distributes EU subsidies; including a section and department head, who will likely be charged with abuse of office, local media reported Tuesday.

EC may take Czechs to court over bark beetle-hit trees

Brian Kenety — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 14:23:05 +0000

The European Union’s executive arm has asked the Czech Republic to stop felling spruce trees in the Šumava National Park infested with bark beetles and may ask a court to issue a preliminary injunction to ban it, the Czech state news agency ČTK reported Monday.

Czech police seek to charge ex-Defense Minister over CASA deal

Brian Kenety — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 09:21:55 +0000

The Czech anti-corruption and financial crime police unit (ÚOKFK) has asked for Vlasta Parkanová (TOP 09), deputy speaker of the lower house of Parliament, to be stripped of immunity so that she may be prosecuted on abuse of office and other charges for her role in the 2009 purchase of CASA transport aircraft, when she was defense minister.

Czechs to extend lease of Gripens: report

Brian Kenety — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 09:34:41 +0000

The Czech Republic is expected to reach a deal with Sweden to extend the lease of 14 Gripen jet fighters beyond 2015, the daily Právo reported on Monday, citing a well-informed politician.

German investor loses Kč 4 bln arbitration vs Czech state over CE Wood

Brian Kenety — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 14:53:43 +0000

The Czech Republic has won an arbitration case filed by a German investor who had accused the country of breaching a bilateral investment treaty and claimed it sustained serious losses to its shareholdings in a Czech forestry company.

Some sorts of austerity are better than others

Guest Writer — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 07:40:47 +0000

By John Springford

Governments in the eurozone’s periphery are pursuing a scorched earth fiscal strategy. Distressed governments may not be able to afford a fiscal stimulus or even a delayed consolidation, partly because of the size of their deficits and partly because they do not fully control the currency in which that debt is issued.

Czech-bred Przewalski horses producing foals in Mongolia

Brian Kenety — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 11:15:30 +0000

A rare Przewalski mare bred at the Prague Zoo and transported to the endangered wild horse breed’s ancestral home of Mongolia last year has given birth to a foal — and two others are pregnant, with one ready to give birth at any moment.

What Putin’s return means for the former Soviet republics

Guest Writer — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 08:11:14 +0000

By Jana Kobzová and Tomáš Valášek

Vladimir Putin’s re-election as Russia’s president, and his absence from recent summits of the G8 and NATO, indicate a hardening of Russian attitudes towards the West. What does this imply for Russia’s relations with the former Soviet republics in Europe and Central Asia?

Ex-Czech EU Affairs minister charged

Brian Kenety — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 10:24:51 +0000

Czech career diplomat Juraj Chmiel, a former minister for European Affairs, has been charged in connection with contracts he signed off on when ambassador to Australia, the Czech daily Právo reported on Friday, citing an unidentified source close to the investigation.

Czech billionaire’s PPF seen paving way for Chinese fourth mobile operator bid

David Kasl — Mon, 28 May 2012 08:47:13 +0000

The Czech Republic would stand alone in the European Union if a Chinese mobile phone operator were to win a license to operate in the country and the scenario is far from fiction.

EU funds in Northern Bohemia under godfathers’ control, ex-official charges

Martin Shabu — Fri, 25 May 2012 05:50:21 +0000

Not even three months into his post as head of the Northwest Regional Cohesion Council, Leo Steiner reached a clear conclusion: the distribution of EU funds in the Ústí nad Labem and Karlovy Vary regions was riddled with corruption.

Czech PM warns national public budget deficit could double on EU fund problems

Chris Johnstone — Thu, 24 May 2012 15:16:37 +0000

Czech Prime Minister Petr Nečas has warned that the country’s state deficit could more than double to around 6.0 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) this year in the worst case scenario of the European Commission freezing payments to the country because of misgivings about how the cash has been used.

Czech spy service faces budget cut – or liquidation?

Martin Shabu — Tue, 22 May 2012 08:41:47 +0000

The draft budget proposed by the Ministry of Finance envisions reducing allocations to the state intelligence service (BIS) by Kč 250 million over the next two years — a drastic reduction that former interior minister MP František Bublan (Social Democrats, ČSSD) says could lead to the spy service’s liquidation.

Czech scientists, get to know this American!

Martin Rychlík — Mon, 21 May 2012 09:58:11 +0000

Czech scientists are increasingly on the American radar: domestic research institutions now have a right to apply for grants awarded by US defense agencies, a Czech-American agreement on scientific cooperation has been signed, and an Office of Naval Research Global (ONRG) has been established at the US embassy here.