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When the former communist countries of Central Europe joined the EU in May of 2004 one of Europe's main benefits was denied to them - the right to live and work in any other European Union country. Only a few countries allowed workers from the new member states free access to their labour market. Others, like Austria, feared a flood of cheap labour would take local jobs and so placed strict restrictions on the entry of workers. In Austria's case that meant workers from four countries, with which it shares a border, were shut out - the Czech Republic,

The Czech Republic has been witnessing a radical fall in its unemployment rate, which fell to just 6.3 percent last month. At the same time, there were 80,000 new job seekers last year. Analysts say the main factor leading to this development is the country's booming economy, with companies expanding and creating new jobs. But economists are already warning that this positive trend is having a negative effect - the country is running out of affordable skilled labour.

Britain and Ireland continue to be magnets for job seekers from Poland. Widespread stories of interesting work coupled with splendid salaries have been a temptation hard to resist for many Pole. Almost a million to be exact! But do they intend to stay?

In May 2004 the European Union welcomed in 10 new, mostly central and east European states, in what was the single biggest enlargement in the history of the alliance. For countries such as the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia, joining the EU was one of their most important steps since the collapse of communism, a decade and a half earlier. But how do they feel about membership now? That's a question addressed in the latest Eurobarometer international poll.

The castle in Velke Uherce in Central Slovakia has belonged to the Thonet family for almost 200 years. Michael Thonet was a world famous furniture maker. After the communists came to power in 1948 the castle was confiscated and the Thonet family persecuted for political reasons. Three years ago the great grand son of Michael Thonet, Flavio, who lives in Austria, bought the castle. Now he and his wife Sophia are involved in its reconstruction. Ela Nahalkova met Flavio Thonet and his wife Sophie and spoke to them about their plans for the

This past week Russia suspended its participation in one of Europe's key arms control treaties - the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty. That treaty sets strict limits on how much heavy military equipment NATO and Russia can deploy. Now Russia says it will no longer permit inspections or exchange data on its deployments. The move follows Russian attempts to get NATO states to ratify an update of the treaty but the US and its allies say they want Russian troops out of Moldova and Georgia before they do that.

The Stadion Dziesieciolecia, or the Tenth Anniversary Stadium, is a left-over piece of architecture from Poland's recent past. Its outdoor market is a special universe of sellers from all over the world. But its days are numbered. Poland's surprise win in the bid to host the 2012 European Football Championships means a brand new sports complex will be built on the site. Soon the market will close forever.

It's high summer and high tourist season in Central Europe and in the first five months of this year Slovenia's capital has broken new records for visitors. The rest of the country is also experiencing something of a boom

In November Slovenes will elect a new President. The incumbent, Janez Drnovsek,says he will not be seeking another five year term. In recent months tensions between President Drnovsek and Prime Minister Jansa have made headlines in Slovenia and there've been suggestions the government could move to strip the post of some of its powers. The first to enter the presidential race is Lojze Peterle, who served as Slovenia's prime minister from 1990 to 1992, and was elected to the European Parliament in 2004.

Warsaw is to have a Museum of the History of Polish Jews. The recent cornerstone-laying ceremony brought together prominent personalities from Poland and around the world, including Polish current and former presidents, past and present Israeli ambassadors to Poland, rabbis and Catholic Church leaders. 'This won't be another Holocaust museum' - stress the project authors - but a center for dialogue, culture and education about the long and rich history of Polish - Jewish coexistence.