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The Czech police have charged three people with fraud and breach of copyright for trafficking in forged artworks. The criminal ring mainly commissioned copies of work by — or in the style of — celebrated Czech 19th and 20th century painters.

The question of tradition and its role in ever-changing society is a fascinating one that is addressed by each new generation: Prague's Municipal Library provided a forum for just such debate at the Khamoro Roma Festival this week. On Wednesday young Roma activists, students of culture studies, community workers, as well as a general public interested in Romani traditions stretching as far as Spain and Macedonia, met to hear about and define the role of tradition across common borders. Discussed were positive images, the role of Roma women and family,

In just over two weeks time Czechs will go to the polls to vote in their first ever elections to the European Parliament. Thirty one parties and political groupings are registered and fighting for voter support. From the big league players to virtual unknowns, all are telling Czechs that they alone can best serve their interests in the European Parliament.

Perhaps no figure in modern Czech history is as controversial as Edvard Benes. He was the second president of Czechoslovakia: twice he had to give way to hostile forces while in power and he is also often criticised for signing the decrees that resulted in 2.5 million Germans being deported from the Czech lands after the Second World War. To mark the 120th anniversary of his birth a special seminar has been held in Prague to redefine his legacy.

Prague's busy Wenceslas Square is now host to the international festival "Sculpture Grande 2004", which opened this week under the very loose theme of European integration. Brian Kenety went along to the vernissage at the Gallery Art Factory and has this report.

Now that the latest EU enlargement has finally been ratified, there are some who are already thinking about the further expansion of the Union. One region that will surely be considered in regard to any future enlargement is the Balkans, which is slowly beginning to stabilise after a decade of ethnic conflict. Czech Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla has already publicly backed the idea of pushing the EU's borders eastwards to include the Balkan countries.

"Voices of Heroes", a unique oral history project, seeks to honour the aging men and women who left occupied Czechoslovakia to serve in foreign armies during teh Second World War. Brian Kenety reports.

Since the Czechs joined the European Union on May 1st questions over Roma identity, tradition, and roles in civil society have become more apt than ever in the Czech Republic and abroad, questions experts and Roma representatives aim to tackle in a series of week-long discussions in Prague. The discussions will be part of the 6th annual Khamoro Festival now underway, a festival that has become the byword for the celebration of Roma culture and music.

On Wednesday night millions of football fans around Europe will watch the final of the Champions League, the biggest, most glamorous club competition in the history of the game. Few of them will know the story of Europe's first ever international club competition, and the forerunner of the Champions League, the Mitropa Cup.

European Union foreign ministers - including the 10 newcomers - are meeting in Brussels to break the long deadlock over the proposed European Constitution. Insiders predict that 95 per cent of the draft Constitution that emerged from the Inter-Governmental Conference in December will be adopted at the June 17 - 18 meeting of the European Council. But consensus on the other 5 per cent — especially voting rights — appears elusive at best.