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Since the Velvet Revolution the Czech real estate market has experienced enormous development. Now experts claim that all major changes are over and prices of new apartments should stay stable. Even Czech accession to the European Union, they say, should not bring anything new.

Last Friday was an extremely dramatic day in Czech politics: first it was announced that Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla had collapsed, and had been rushed to hospital. Then the man who was to be country's first ever European commissioner, Social Democrat MP Milos Kuzvart, stunned many by announcing he was no longer interested in the post. To add to the day's drama, it emerged that Mr Spidla had collapsed during a heated discussion about Mr Kuzvart's "resignation". Mr Kuzvart said he had not had the support of the foreign minister or the Czech embassy

The Czech government will most likely name its new candidate to the European Commission by the end of the week, Labour and Social Affairs Minister Zdenek Skromach said on Sunday. The government is forced to find a new representative after Social Democrat MP Milos Kuzvart unexpectedly gave up the post on Friday, saying he did not have enough support from the government, especially the foreign ministry. While the European Commission has called the move "regrettable", Czech politicians were not so diplomatic. Czech President Vaclav Klaus described the situation as a "failure of the nomination process in the government, as well as the candidate himself," while Minister Skromach said in a TV discussion programme that Mr Kuzvart should resign as Member of Parliament. Prime candidates are Czech Ambassador to the Council of Europe Vlasta Stepova, Czech Ambassador to the EU Pavel Telicka, Social Democrat MP and former deputy finance minister Jan Mladek, and a former minister Kvetoslava Korinkova.

The leaders of the ruling coalition parties shall meet on Monday to discuss who should represent the country in the European Commission, Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla has announced. The government suffered a diplomatic setback on Friday when its candidate, Social Democrat MP Milos Kuzvart, said he was no longer interested in the post. Mr Kuzvart withdrew his candidacy for a lack of sufficient support from the government, especially from the Foreign Ministry. According to Labour and Social Affairs Minister Zdenek Skromach, the Czech Ambassador to the Council of Europe Vlasta Stepova would be a suitable candidate for the post in the European Commission. Petr Mares, leader of the Freedom Union - a junior coalition partner, also agrees that Mrs Stepova meets the requirements.

The Czech Republic has done little to be able to use the European Union's structural funds after it joins the EU in May, the country's regional governors claim. They blame the central bodies of the government administration for failing to set the rules for drawing financial aid from EU funds. Frantisek Dohnal, governor for the Jihlava region, says he and his colleagues still lack the necessary documents and the money to co-finance individual projects. Experts have agreed that the Czech Republic will not be able to use the whole sum on offer.

Czechs, who are the world's biggest beer drinkers, will soon be able to avail themselves of the services of a beer spa! The biggest nightmare of Czech train drivers -and why some women want to change their names. Find out more in Magazine with Daniela Lazarova.

The Czech Republic's candidate for EU commissioner, Social Democrat MP Milos Kuzvart officially announced on Friday he was no longer interested in the post. Mr. Kuzvart said he was giving up the candidacy because he did not feel sufficient support from the government. Earlier this week, Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda criticised the ruling Social Democrats for having chosen Mr. Kuzvart despite disapproval of the other two coalition partners.

The senior opposition Civic Democrats have called on the government to start a new round of debates on a Czech candidate to the European Commission. The Civic Democrats said they considered the situation harmful to the Czech Republic's international reputation. They also criticised the government for pushing Mr. Kuzvart as the country's candidate without a broader political support. The Civic Democrats had proposed former environment minister Bedrich Moldan as a candidate and said they were willing to start discussing a generally acceptable compromise.

30 percent of Czech exporters seen not ready for EU competition. Boeing to leave Aero without compensation. Czech January producer prices jump more than expected. Retail sales in December grow 6.3 percent year-on-year. Industrial output rises by 8.9 percent in December.

Most, if not all of today's Czech dailies reflect on the meeting of the so-called "Big Three" - Tony Blair, Gerhard Schroeder, and Jacques Chirac - in Berlin, exercising an attempt to focus on needed changes in the EU, including the economic sphere. Mlada Fronta Dnes notes critical reaction from other EU countries and politicians like Italy's Silvio Berlesconi; Czech Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla is also quoted downplaying the risk of various power circles, though the prime minister does say European integration should not see countries integrate