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Marie Bohata is the exception to the rule. In a country where women rarely hold high posts, she has reached for one of the top jobs in the European Commission - and landed it. She is to be the new deputy director of Eurostat - one of just eight top posts being offered to candidates from the 10 newcomer states. Here's what she had to say about the job interview that will take her to Luxembourg - the headquarters of Eurostat.

"I am convinced that if we want to save this aspect of European culture, we must change it. If we want to preserve our social security systems, which we have built up over the years, we must adapt to the new economic conditions." Those were the words of the German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in Prague on Monday. Europe-wide social policy reform was the focus of his visit to the Czech capital.

Czech Deputy Foreign Minister Petr Kolar addressed a group of American students in Prague on Thursday on the issue of the European Union's relationship with the United States and on the Czech Republic's dealings with both entities. One of the topics that provoked much discussion was the so-called rift between some countries in the EU and the United States, particularly in relation to the US-led military action in Iraq.

On a state visit to Spain this week Czech President Vaclav Klaus made his opposition to the European integration process a pivotal issue, saying that he hoped "a united Europe would never come to fruition" and telling his hosts that "good fences make good neighbours".

Vladimir Spidla underwent a trial by fire on Monday at the European Union. The former Czech Prime minister, now set to become the EU's Commissioner for Labour in November, was the first of the new commissioners to be grilled by deputies in the European Parliament. Mr Spidla emerged from the three hour session joking that a law should be passed preventing this from happening more than once in five years. Daniela Lazarova has been following the story. So, Daniela did Mr. Spidla pass the test?

Czech president Vaclav Klaus, on an official visit to Spain, has rejected the notion of a single European identity, for Spanish journal El Pais. Speaking with the paper Mr Klaus said differences over Iraq were proof that Europe was "not united". During the discussion Mr Klaus rejected the "eurosceptic" label, telling El Pais he preferred to be seen as a "euro realist" for whom a freer, more democratic Europe with higher productivity was important.

Vladimir Spidla, one of 25 incoming Euro commissioners, spoke on Monday in favour of the European Union social model during his hearing in European Parliament. He said he also supported reforms to increase the competitiveness of the European economy and said as commissioner of EU social affairs he would strive to achieve and maintain a high employment rate within the union.

Later in the day, Mr Spidla then faced grilling from euro MPs, including representatives from the Czech Republic and Greece, over topics like state debt and poverty. Mr Spidla also spoke about the free movement of labour as one of the EU's strengths, the reason why, as commissioner for social affairs, he would push for twelve countries from the "original fifteen" to reconsider restrictions against new member states that joined the EU in May.

The European arrest warrant, an important instrument in the fight against organized crime and terrorism will now apply to Czech citizens as well. Late last week, the Lower House of Parliament overrode the veto of President Vaclav Klaus, opening the way for the warrant's validity in the Czech Republic.

The Chamber of Deputies has approved the adoption of the European arrest warrant, overturning a veto by President Vaclav Klaus. Meanwhile, the opposition Civic Democrats said Friday they were planning to take the matter to the Constitutional Court; they say the European arrest warrant contravenes the Czech Republic's bill of basic rights and freedoms.

Jan Svejnar is one of the most respected economists the Czech Republic has produced. An adviser to former president Vaclav Havel for almost a decade, Mr Svejnar is a professor at the University of Michigan's business school and heads an American-style PhD programme and research centre at Prague's Charles University. I caught up with the renowned economist at a public debate in Prague this week, and first asked him what were the major challenges facing the Czech economy.