Related articles

Czech Radio has reported that one of the diplomats to represent the Czech Republic in EU bodies collaborated with the Communist-era StB secret police. According to Czech Radio, Petr Mooz was listed as an agent in StB files. Mr Mooz was screened under the so-called "lustration" process and received a "clean" certificate from the Interior Ministry in 1992 - he maintains that he never collaborated with the communist political police.

On Thursday the prime minister, Bertie Ahern, made a short visit to Prague, just a week before the Czech Republic and nine other countries join the European Union. Mr Ahern is also the current president of the European Council, and he addressed the thorny issue of a new constitution for the EU in a speech to the Czech Senate. He also found the time to talk to Radio Prague, about why he had come to the Czech capital, how Czechs could make the most of membership and how optimistic he was that agreement on a constitution could be reached before the

On a visit to Prague on Thursday the Irish prime minister, Bertie Ahern, discussed preparations for a new EU constitution with his Czech counterpart, Vladimir Spidla. Mr Ahern also addressed the EU constitution in a speech to the Czech Senate; he said he would seek a spirit of compromise and flexibility from all EU states, so as to reach agreement by the end of Ireland's presidency of the Union at the end of June.

Meanwhile, President Vaclav Klaus has said the Czech Republic will cease to exist as an independent state once the country joins the EU. In an article in the newspaper Mlada fronta Dnes, Mr Klaus - a long-term critic of European integration - said the Czech Republic and the other nine countries joining the Union should assert themselves or be lost within the expanded 25-member bloc.

In its assessment last November of the Czech Republic's preparedness for EU membership, the European Commission (EC) stressed that Prague was still lagging behind with regards to food safety and hygiene norms. Since then, Czech food processing companies and restaurants have worked hard at meeting EU requirements.

For the first time ever, foreigners will be able to vote in a Czech election. When Czechs go to the polls in their first elections to the European Parliament in a few weeks' time, citizens from other EU countries will also be able to vote for Czech candidates - a strange thought just 14 years after the fall of communism. All you need is permanent or long-term residence in the Czech Republic. British citizen and Zizkov resident, David Vaughan went down to register.

This week the Czech Republic's candidate for a seat on the European Commission in Brussels, Pavel Telicka, was put through one final grilling before taking up the post. Mr Telicka was a last-minute choice for Czech Commissioner, after embarrassment and confusion, when the government's initial choice, the former Environment Minister, Milos Kuzvart, suddenly and unexpectedly withdrew his candidacy a few weeks ago. In the end the European Parliament's assessment of Mr Telicka's suitability for the post went fairly smoothly, but there were also a few

As part of its second phase of planned fiscal reforms the government has agreed on a draft bill proposing the stamping of liquor products in the Czech Republic. The method, the government says, will provide a means for quelling black market sales and cracking down on tax evasion. The question is will it be effective? As we now report not everyone thinks so.

Czech President Vaclav Klaus has vetoed a new law on VAT, a move that may complicate Czech trade with fellow EU members after May 1st. The World Bank has encouraged EU newcomers joining next month to adopt more economic reforms. The Czech National Bank has changed its strategy of managing foreign exchange reserves. The inflation rate has quickened to its fastest annual pace in nearly two years.

In less than three weeks, the Czech Republic will become a member of the European Union. One of the potential benefits of membership is that the country will be entitled to money from EU funds allocated for regional development, as the aim is to eliminate differences between regions and ensure their smooth development within the European Union. But will the regions of the Czech Republic really profit from EU membership?