Related articles

The Czech Republic plans to send a barrel of beer to Brussels as an "extraordinary ambassador" to show its opposition to a proposed rise in EU alcohol taxes. The Czech Republic, the world's biggest beer-drinking nation per capita, is opposed to a 31 percent rise in the minimum EU duty on beer and spirits proposed last month by the European Commission. The rise, which needs the unanimous approval of the EU's 25 member states, would add one euro cent to the price of a half litre of beer. According to Finance Minister Vlastimil Tlusty, who will head to Brussels alongside the barrel for a meeting of EU finance ministers, the Czech Republic is prepared to veto the proposed tax rise.

Coming up in this week's business news, Czechs help block an EU proposal to raise tax on beer, Budvar wins a trademark battle in Portugal, Delvita supermarkets announce they're shutting up shop, the Czech crown sets a new record against the euro, minority shareholders call for halt in Unipetrol privatisation, Czech perceptions of corruption decline and the World Bank says setting up a Czech company takes 24 days - over a week longer than the OECD average.

With an annual consumption of 156 liters per head Czechs are the world's biggest beer consumers. Now - a proposed increase in minimum alcohol excise duties in the EU states is threatening to send up the price of the Czech national beverage. On Tuesday the Czech Republic and three other EU members - Germany, Lithuania and Latvia - blocked the proposal. But the fight over the price of beer is not over. The excise duty price hike will be back on the EU's agenda at the end of November.

The finance ministers of the Czech Republic and Germany have announced they will join forces to block a European Commission plan to raise minimum duties on beer. Czech Finance Minister Vlastimil Tlusty said Prague would veto the rise, which needs to be approved by all 25 EU members. He said he and his German counterpart, Peer Steinbruck, would express their joint standpoint at a meeting in Brussels next week.

The Czechs are the world's biggest beer drinkers, consuming nearly 160 litres per person per year. The Germans are the third biggest consumers.

The finance ministers of Germany and the Czech Republic announced on Friday they would join forces to block the European Commission's plans to raise minimum duties on beer. Last month the European Union's executive arm proposed a 31 percent increase in the minimum EU duty on beer and spirits to reflect inflation since the tax was last set 14 years ago. The rise, which needs the unanimous approval of the EU's 25 member states, would add a euro cent (about 1.3 U.S. cents) to the price of a half litre of beer. Czech Finance Minister Vlastimil Tlusty said Prague was prepared to veto the alcohol duty rise. He also rejected the argument that the Commission's move was necessary to combat alcoholism across the EU.

The Czech Republic's best-known beer producer, Pilsner Urquell, has announced that it will raise prices as of November. The west Bohemian-based brewery, located in the city of Plzen, made the announcement citing rising costs of barley, energy, and packaging materials. A half-liter of Pilsner will go up in price by 1.40 Czech crowns; the current cost is 16.50 Kc.

Tomas Bata goes back to his roots to celebrate his 92nd birthday. Who has the longest handle-bar moustache in the Czech Republic? And - a contest in speed swimming for tropical fish! Find out more in Magazine with Daniela Lazarova.

A wave of discontent swept across the ten countries which joined the European Union in 2004 when the news emerged from Brussels recently that they will not be allowed to join the borderless "Schengen" zone until at least a year after the original promised date. Czech officials have been among those most vocal in protesting at what they call a denial of one of the European Union's fundamental freedoms - the freedom of movement.

The European Union is asking the Czech Republic and six other EU states to raise the sales tax on beer. The increase would equal about one-fifth of the current tax rate and come into effect sometime between 2008 and 2010. Brussels is suggesting the change because EU analysts say that beer prices have not been affected by general inflation in recent years, and experts say higher prices are also a way to combat alcoholism. Czech brewery owners are opposed to the proposal.

Komercni Banka clients hit by on-line thieves. Czech-Chinese business relations grow. Lithuanian-based bank opens office in Czech Republic. Mountfield records growing sales. Czech breweries increase production.