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The Czech Republic is on the top of the list of candidates for European Union membership, having harmonised 18 chapters of legislation with the EU's acquis communautaire. But the EU itself still has a lot of preparations to make - the 15-member bloc needs to undergo crucial internal reform before enlargement.

One problem is how to govern the new bigger EU. When the EU's governing bodies were founded, the Union had 6 members. Today there are 15, and their number will nearly double in a few years' time. There is broad consensus that reform

New statistics released this week show a dramatic drop in the number of abortions in the Czech Republic over the last ten years. One of the reasons is that more and more women are using the pill. But, as reports, the social changes following the fall of communism have also played a positive role:

The Czech Republic's preparations for EU membership are a constant source of news for the Czech media, and in recent times disputes over labour rights and property have dominated the headlines. But it was good news for a change at the weekend, as the Czech Republic concluded the environment chapter of legislation in accession talks with the EU on Friday, with three transition periods to give the Czechs more time to meet EU standards. has this report:

Those of you listening yesterday will have heard the story of how the tiny state of Liechtenstein is taking Germany to the International Court of Justice over property seized after World War Two. The property includes large stretches of land in Czech territory, but why is Liechtenstein suing Germany and not the Czech Republic? explains.

This weekend, the town of Podebrady - some 40 kilometres east of Prague - will host a large religious assembly to mark the 530th anniversary of the deaths of the protestant reformers King George of Podebrady and Hussite Archbishop Jan Rokycana. The event will take place under the patronage of the Czech Brethren Evangelical church. has this report:

The tiny state of Liechtenstein has announced it is taking Germany to the International Court of Justice over property seized after World War Two. The assets involved include forests, castles, works of art and, as it happens, 180,000 hectares of the land seized is in what is now the Czech Republic. has the story.

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