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The Czech Republic's position in the heart of Europe means that it is at the crossroads of many international routes. As a result, the country has an opportunity to establish itself as a transport hub for much of the trade that passes through an enlarged European Union and beyond. A conference held in Prague this week focused on ways of developing this potential.

The European Commission released its final report on the ten candidates to join the European Union on Wednesday. The Commission said all ten would be able to join the Union on May 1st, 2004, but warned of serious shortcomings which would deny new EU countries the full benefits of membership if left unresolved. Well joining me to go through the Czech Republic's report card is my colleague Rob Cameron - was it top marks for the Czechs, Rob, or more a case of "See me after class"?

The European Commission's Monitoring Report on the candidate states is the top story on all front pages with the papers featuring a list of the European Commission's main objections. The general tone though is upbeat with the papers commenting on how the Czech Republic had improved its position in recent years. "Today's report is a very nice B plus" reads the lead headline in Mlada Fronta Dnes.

The response from Prague to the EC's report has been generally optimistic. Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla said the report had been more or less what the Cabinet expected. He said that the government was aware of the country's shortcomings and that everything was being done to resolve the outlined problems before the country's joins the EU next May. Czech Foreign ministry officials have likewise stated that the Czech Republic is ready to meet its remaining obligations within the set time limit.

The European Commission has published its annual progress report on 10 EU candidate countries, the last before they are due to join the union in May of 2004. The report says that although the "newcomers" have made great progress in implementing EU norms and regulations there are serious concerns in 39 specific sectors relating to movement of people, farm payments and health and sanitation standards. The Czech Republic has been urged to speed up the approval of laws relating to recognition of diplomas, road transport and farm aid systems. The EC is also unhappy with the steep deficit in public finances and the high level of corruption in the Czech Republic.

The presidents of the Visegrad Four group - the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia - have said their mutual co-operation makes sense and should continue even after all four join the European Union next year. The four presidents made the comments after Monday's Visegrad meeting in Budapest. The Czech President Vaclav Klaus, a fierce critic of the group in the past, explained that while he had always believed the four countries were very close, he had been concerned that past Visegrad Four meetings were not always productive.

The Reuters news agency has reported that the European Commission, the executive body of the European Union, will warn all 10 countries joining next May, they have not yet met entry requirements in dozens of areas, though the EU will still press ahead with enlargement. According to Reuters the Commission said it will publish its final progress reports next Wednesday. Acceding countries, including the Czech Republic, are expected to receive letters demanding immediate and decisive action in response to concerns in 39 different sectors. The Czech Republic, though, is expected to receive warnings in just 3 areas, covering the state of food processing, the application of EU regulations in road transport, and the approval of a law mutually recognising university degrees. A fourth point dealing with the law on public tenders has been made moot by a bill passed in the Czech Lower House on Thursday.

It's half a year before the European Union will take in ten new members, including the Czech Republic. Perhaps the most painful issue both before and after accession is the agricultural policy. EU Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries, Franz Fischler, paid a visit to the Czech Republic a few days ago to discuss the issue.

After seven months in office, President Vaclav Klaus walked into Parliament and did what he was always so good at: he slammed the governing coalition, criticized the state budget and warned against the pitfalls of the European Constitution. It was a passionate address worthy of an opposition leader, angering some who say the president is meant to be impartial.

And following last weekend's nationwide raids on the country's brothels, police have gathered personal details on thousands of prostitutes, which they say will help the authorities track their movements when the Czech Republic joins the European Union next year. During last weekend's raids, the largest crackdown on prostitution in the country's history, police interviewed and compiled personal data on thousands of women working in 435 brothels across the country. An estimated 15,000 prostitutes, generally from countries in eastern Europe, work in the Czech Republic, most along the German and Austrian borders.