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Countries preparing to join the European Union, including Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic have backed EU support of the International Criminal court. That's despite pressure from the United States to sign an agreement exempting US citizens from war crimes prosecution by the court.

The International Day against Drug Addiction was observed this week and in Central Europe there was concern expressed that "recreational drug use and experimentation are becoming an integral part of youth culture". The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction says central & eastern Europe is not only still a major drug transit region - it has become a clear target for drug consumption as well. In the Czech Republic, a heated debate is underway about drug laws which allow possession of "not more than a small amount" of marijuana - though

Hungary passed amendments to what's been known as the Status Law this week. The act on Hungarians Living in Neighbouring Countries - to give it the official title - provides benefits to ethnic hungarians living outside of Hungary. The Council of Europe criticised Hungary for failing to get agreement from its neighbours and Slovakia called on the Hungarian government to restrain from applying the law to the half-million strong Hungarian minority in Slovakia. But the Hungarian Foreign Ministry State Secretary Andras Barsony says the bill, although

In Poland a controversial Dutch ship of abortion rights campaigners has been prompting talk-show discussions, parliamentary debate and vitriolic condemnation from church and conservative political leaders. The campaigners, Women on Waves, have been wanting to give women family planning advice away from Poland's restrictive anti-abortion laws. The ship has been met by egg throwing protestors and a fired a fierce debate on abortion in Poland. Opinion polls show Polish society split right down the middle. Heavily influenced by the Roman Catholic church,

While a small amount of marijuana is being taken in bars and cafe around the Czech Republic - across the border in Slovakia, the picture is quite different: Here the criminal code allows a prison sentence for a drug user of up to 3 years. A drug distributor can be sent to prison for up to 15 years.

The OSCE, the organisation for security and co-operation in Europe has warned the Hungarian Status law should not create a precedent. Minorities Commissioner Rolf Ekeus says any elements of the legislation which have effects in neighbouring states will need the support of the state concerned. Walter Kemp, senior advisor to the High Commissioner for National Minorities at the OSCE explains the specific concerns the orgnisation has about the benefits law.

Slovenia's Lent Festival in Maribor has been host to many big band names in recent years. The event - with it's jazz rhythms and ballet performance on the banks of the river Drava in Maribor, turns SLovenia's second largest city into a cultural hub for a couple of week each year.

Seventy-seven percent of Czechs last weekend said "YES" to E.U membership. But just days after the Czechs held one referendum, politicians are already talking about another - on the future of Europe as outlined in the new European Constitution unveiled in Thessaloniki this week. So what do Czechs make of the blueprint for a new Europe? Do they want for instance, a Powerful European President? Two Czech students voice their views

As the debate over the constitution gathers pace tensions between the larger and smaller countries of Europe have grown. Paul Luif is an analyst at the Austrian Institute for International Affairs and smaller states are have some right to be concerned.

A group of experts from the Un's nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, is in Hungary to report on the safety of the country's only power station, Paks. A reactor at the plant has been out of service after an accident left 30 fuel rods stranded in a cleaning tank close to the reactor. The plant's operators insist it is safe - but this hasn't stopped greenpeace activists protesting and calling for it's closure.