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In this week's Insight Central Europe: join us for a special Christmas program on how the festive season is celebrated in the region. We'll hear an ancient folk story from Slovenia, find out how straw decorations are made in Poland, explore Slovak Christmas customs, visit a nativity scene museum in the Czech village Karlstein and hear about Christmas in the middle of a revolution.

The European Union has finally given Turkey a date to start accession talks - providing it takes steps towards recognising Cyprus. The talks are scheduled to begin in October next year and could take at least a decade. Turkey said it was disappointed with the EU's tough conditions but European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said it was a fair offer. But where does Central Europe lie in the great Turkey debate?

The US mobile phone company Western Wireless has accused the Slovene government of failing to ensure a free market in the telecommunications sector. It is suing the state for 174 million euros in compensation.

The 6th Bratislava International Film Festival has just finished with 22.000 movie-goers attending 170 screenings. The highlight was an international competition of first and second feature films. And it was the very first time that the competition featured a Slovak film and also the first time that this country's largest international film festival showcased a new breed of Slovak films. This, despite complaints from local filmmakers about unfavourable shooting conditions in Slovakia.

Much of Israel's population has roots in Poland. Some Polish Jews who emigrated to Israel were driven by the dream of a new homeland, others escaped persecution. But whether they left of their own accord or were expelled, they were stripped of Polish passports by the country's communist authorities. It wasn't until a few years ago that the newly democratic Poland restored its citizenship to all those kicked out in anti-Jewish purges in the late 1960s. But those who had left earlier were not included. Since Poland became a new European Union member

Choreographers, dancers and folk festival directors from all over were in Hungary recently - preparing for a major joint project - a dance theatre piece which is supported by the EU's Culture Programme. The Duna Art Ensemble hosted the international visitors. We spoke to Andrea Vincze, artistic manager of the ensemble:

Twelve days before Christmas is a bewitching time in Slovakia. Some Slovaks still celebrate the day of St Lucy - the end of the cycle of so called witches' days. In some European regions, St Lucy is considered the patron of light. But Slovaks did not fancy Lucy so much. Until the end of the 16th century, this day was the shortest in the year. On this dark day people believed witches were at their greatest power.

Ukraine's Parliament has cleared the way for a repeat of its Presidential run-off election on December 26th. MP's voted overwhelmingly for constitutional and electoral changes which should mean a minimum of foul play in the battle between pro-western Viktor Yushchenko and the Moscow backed Viktor Yanukovych. The political crisis now appears headed for a peaceful end but it has raised tensions between the European Union and Russia - each of them accusing the other of interfering in Ukraine's internal politics. The result is a fight for influence

Poland's one and only budget airline Air Polonia has been grounded due to financial problems, leaving thousands of passengers stranded across Europe. It's only recently that Poland has allowed foreign competition for its domestic carrier - LOT - and Polonia's failure is a disappointment to many. But it faced tough competition from other cut price carriers such as Slovak-owned SkyEurope, Hungarian WizzAir, Britain's EasyJet and Cologne-based Germanwings.

Slovenian films are not very well known and not many show up at international festivals. But that's changing. A new name in the Slovenian film business is Jan Bilodjeric director of the film "slepilo" or illusion. Jan is just back from a film festival in New York and, together with actor Srdjan Trifunovic, spoke to Radio Slovenia International.