ICE - special | All stories

Slovenia - the current holder of the European Union Presidency - has been asked to make its time at the top - well - meatless. The country's Society for the Rights and Liberation of Animals is proposing all official dinners and functions should be vegetarian. They point to the impact of meat production on greenhouse gas emissions and suggest this would set a fine example for the rest of Europe.

It's around a week since Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia. That's triggered a series of events, some of them violent including attacks on embassies in Belgrade on Thursday and earlier in the week attacks by Kosovo Serbs on border posts between Kosovo and Serbia. It's been a busy week of diplomacy as well with first France and then around a dozen others including the United States declaring their intention to recognise Kosovo. Serbia has reacted angrily and is withdrawing ambassadors from those countries which open diplomatic relations

The Czech Republic is to introduce language tests for migrants. Under the new rules launched last week foreigners applying for permanent residence or Czech citizenship will have to pass a compulsory exam. Neighouring Austria also recently introduced a language rule for migrants. So why does the Czech Republic suddenly find it necessary?

Business studies and opera would, at first glance, not appear to be a perfect match. But if you happen to visit the Warsaw School of Economics on Opera Day, you can see hundreds of students booking tickets for National Opera productions, talking to singers and enthusiastically applauding their performances.

Slovakia looks likely to be the only Central European country not to step forward and recognise Kosovo. It joins Spain, Greece, Cyprus and Romania as EU nations who have opposed the unilateral declaration by Pristina. While the Czech Republic has yet to make a commitment, other Central European states have indicated their willingness to form diplomatic relations with Kosovo.

It will come as something of a surprise to many that a former communist country in Central Europe has practically no tradition of activism or political resistance through its films. The country is Slovenia. However efforts are underway to increase awareness of the power of film to move people when it comes to politics and social issues. As Lidija Petković of Radio Slovenia International reports the Civil Society Institute, along with others, has set up a different kind of cinema in the city of Maribor.

Relations between Poland and Russia are best described as fragile. Apart from the legacy of Soviet times there are trade disputes and, right now, big differences over Poland's plans to host part of a US missile defence system, something Russia strongly opposes. In an effort to get things on to a firmer footing Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk paid a visit to Moscow last week - ending a six year break in top level contacts. There were smiles and handshakes but is that enough to generate some positive sentiment between the two neighbours?

When an 86-year-old Czech former communist prosecutor was convicted last year for her role in the judicial murder of politician Milada Horakova, those looking for justice for the crimes committed under communism rejoiced. There was little chance the elderly and infirm woman would serve a day of her eight-year prison sentence, but they saw the verdict as a symbolic victory. But Monday witnessed a turnaround – the conviction was overturned by the Czech High Court.

In Slovakia the illegal copying of movies and music has many artists up in arms. Digital downloads over the internet and the easy copying of DVDs and CDs is cutting into a main revenue flow for many bands. Christopher George has been talking to the bands, and those who pirate their music.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeated a threat to aim Russian missiles at Poland and the Czech Republic if the United States deploys missile defences there. Speaking in Moscow last week he said Russia considers the system a threat to its national security will be obliged to react if it goes ahead. Kerry Skyring spoke to Sebestyen Gorka, director of the Budapest based Institute for Transitional Democracy and International Security and asked him - is Putin's threat a serious one?