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Not for the first time, Russia and Ukraine are in dispute about gas supplies. But amidst clashes over unpaid bills, full market values and political enmities between the two countries, Europe too, particularly south-eastern Europe, is beginning to feel the pinch. The Czech Republic on Tuesday also reported a reported 75 percent drop in supplies from Russia. Russian gas transits through Ukraine on its way to Europe, so will Czechs begin to suffer?

The Czech EU presidency unveiled its priorities for the next six months at a packed press conference on Tuesday, a press conference that was, however, dominated by the current crisis over gas supplies to the European Union. Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek and his deputy for European Affairs Alexandr Vondra did, however, get an opportunity to present the EU’s priorities for the next half a year.

People who need a prescription might soon be spared the nuisance of waiting at the doctors’ for hours. The State Institute for Drug Control has launched a new service, known as e-prescription, that will enable Czech doctors to issue prescriptions via mobile phone text message or email. This method is now being tested, and if everything goes according to plan, it should come into operation by the end of March.

The year 2009 has been designated as the International Year of Astronomy, as it marks exactly 400 years since Galileo first used an astronomical telescope to study the skies. As the presiding head of the European Union, the Czech Republic has been chosen to launch the Year of Astronomy with an official celebration taking place this coming Wednesday on Prague’s Old Town Square. One of the organizers of the events here in the Czech Republic is the Czech Academy of Sciences. Earlier today, I spoke to its director Václav Pačes:

Nothing could be simpler than grabbing one’s skates and heading for local ponds in the Czech Republic, now that real winter conditions have arrived. But officials are warning would-be skaters to take extra caution. Last week saw a number of serious incidents in which skaters fell through the ice. Most were rescued by others nearby, but one man was not so lucky.

In the first major challenge of the Czech Republic’s presidency of the European Union, the country’s foreign minister, Karel Schwarzenberg, is currently heading an EU mission to the Middle East. The high-level delegation is seeking to facilitate a cease-fire between Hamas and Israel, and to make sure civilians in the Gaza Strip have access to humanitarian aid.

The Czech presidency of the European Union could not have hoped for a more powerful kick-off. On the very first day at the EU helm, the government of PM Mirek Topolánek had to address two major issues – the escalating conflict in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, and a natural gas dispute between Russia and Ukraine which could affect gas supplies for the European Union.

Slovakia became the 16th country to join adopt the single European currency on January 1st, and there were great scenes of celebration across the country. Perhaps surprisingly, however, their old partner the Czech Republic is very far from adopting the euro – the government has yet to adopt a convergence plan. But as Rob Cameron reports, that could soon be about to change.

Hours after the Czech Republic took the helm of the European Union, there were worries in Prague that the country’s Eurosceptic president, Václav Klaus, could launch an embarrassing attack on the EU in his annual New Year’s address. In the end, such fears proved unfounded – the president’s speech was moderate on the EU and, indeed, devoted just as much time to the effects of the global financial crisis.

On 1 January 2009, almost 20 years after the fall of the Iron Curtain, the Czech Republic becomes the first former Soviet Bloc country to take over the rotating six-month presidency of the Council of the European Union. Besides the historic symbolism of this event, the upcoming presidency will provide the Czech government with a unique opportunity to influence the EU agenda in the coming months. A successful stint at the helm of Europe could also help the country raise its profile and enhance its standing among its European partners. This is all