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The Czech Republic's EU membership is being celebrated across the country - thousands of people took to the streets of the Czech capital on Friday for a series of outdoor events, which culminated at midnight with a few words from the Prime Minister and a magnificent fireworks display. Dita Asiedu was there...

It hasn't all been happening in Prague this historic weekend: at the triangle where the Czech Republic, Poland and Germany meet, people are celebrating EU enlargement with all kinds of events, from concerts to bike rides. But people from the three different countries have been celebrating in different ways, as Ian Willoughby has been finding out.

Most Czechs are looking to the future in the European Union with hope. But what about those linked to the past? While the country celebrates its EU accession, the Czech communist party is holding a celebration of its own: the annual Labour Day gathering in Prague's Letna park. Brian Kenety was at the event and joins me now in the studio.

Just before the celebrations started, the Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla, together with representatives of the EU delegation to Prague, including its head Ralf Dreyer, appeared before the public at a final press conference before they proceeded to take part in the celebrations in the centre of Prague. Radio Prague's Pavla Horakova has just come back from the press conference.

Let's cross the Czech border into another country that's entering the European Union on Saturday, where Ian Willoughby is now with a man from Germany, who lives in the Czech Republic and will benefit tremendously from European Union enlargement.

After the official press conference, Czech Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla, and various EU dignitaries, took a walk down Prague's Na Prikope Street, a main artery of Prague's shopping district and today host to the "European Market" -- 25 info tents representing the countries of the enlarged European Union. Brian Kenety was trailing the Prime Minister as he pressed the flesh.

Every six months the Presidency of the Council of the European Union rotates between the member states. Ireland currently holds the presidency and plans to welcome the ten new countries to the European Union in a unique way this Saturday. Ten towns and cities around the country will be twinned with a new member state. The picturesque south-western town, Killarney, which has a very strong tourist tradition and is right in the middle of the mountains, has been twinned with the Czech Republic...and its residents are looking forward to getting a taste

A many as a hundred thousand sole entrepreneurs are likely to close their shops within the next three years. A large number of self-employed have shut-down their business since the beginning of this year due to changes in the tax system. This development is a cause for concern for the Business Association and Economic Chamber who have called on the government to meet and find a solution.

The Czech Republic's entry to the European Union on May 1st is a historic occasion and, as in the other nine "newcomer" countries, preparations for the big day are in full swing. Many border villages are draped in festive garb for the occasion in preparation of a day of food, drink and merrymaking with friends from across the border. Shops are sold out of EU flags and many schools have dropped regular lessons in favour of an "EU day" of knowledge quizzes, food bakes and competitions. Friday will bring open air parties across the country and on

The Cultural Ministry and the Museum of Czech Writing have just presented awards for the "Most Beautiful Books" of 2003. This "beauty contest" has a tradition of almost forty years. The committee evaluates the visual quality and the quality of graphics and printing of recently published books. The prize therefore does not go to authors but to publishers.