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Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla has thanked Czechs for endorsing the country's accession to the European Union in a historic referendum over the weekend. According to a final result published by the Czech Statistical Office 77 percent of voters cast ballots in support of EU entry, 23 percent voted against. The turnout was 55 percent. Support for EU membership reportedly came from all strata of society and from all political parties.

Jablunkov is the most eastern town in the country just few kilometres away from the borders with Poland and Slovakia. Dita Asiedu has been following the developments there:

As a member of the European Union, the Czech Republic will naturally enjoy much closer relations with other EU member states. But how will membership of the European Union affect the Czech Republic's relationship with the United States? This week, the representatives of the US embassy and the Delegation of the European Commission in Prague discussed Czech-US relations in the broader context of US-EU relations.

It's a historic day for the Czech Republic - 77 percent of people backed EU entry in the country's referendum. Rob Cameron spent Saturday afternoon at Cerninsky Palac - the headquarters of the Czech Foreign Ministry - where members of the government gathered to hear the results as they came in. Rob, presumably it was smiles all round?

Before polls closed in the European Union referendum at two on Saturday afternoon, we visited a polling station on Prague's Bulharska Street to find out how people had been voting and what they expected EU membership would mean for them.

From next May, Czech people will be able to exercise one of their key rights as European Union citizens - the freedom to work anywhere they like. Countries such as Britain, Sweden and Denmark have said they will welcome Czechs and workers from other new members from the moment they join next May. Other states, notably the Czech Republic's neighbours Germany and Austria, will not allow such workers in for seven years, though that period may be reduced. We found out how people on the streets of Prague viewed that veto, but began by asking them if

Jiri Pehe is a former advisor to Vaclav Havel and an independent political analyst who has closely monitored the results of the referendum on EU accession in the Czech Republic. Earlier on Saturday he spoke to Radio Prague's Jan Velinger, saying there was little doubt the referendum result was a decision of some historic magnitude:

Current and former leading Czech politicians who have contributed to the preparation of the Czech Republic's accession to the European Union met at the Foreign Ministry to celebrate the culmination of their efforts. Shortly after the polling stations closed and the first preliminary results started coming in, Rob Cameron spoke to some of the guests at the event. Pavel Rychetsky is deputy prime minister and the country's justice minister.

The chairman of the Lower House Lubomir Zaoralek has levelled criticism at Czech President Vaclav Klaus, as well as one of the Czech representatives at the European Convention, Jan Zahradil. Speaking shortly before the polls on European accession opened in the Czech Republic on Friday, Mr Zaoralek told journalists Mr Klaus' and Mr Zahradil's stances on the EU showed a 'lack of courage'. Mr Zaoralek also added that he felt 'laments' or 'taking offence' over the future of Europe were hardly beneficial for the Czech Republic. On Thursday it was Jan Zahradil who walked out of the European Convention complaining the agenda had become too federalist. An MP for the opposition Civic Democrats, Mr Zahradil stated the Convention was being manipulated by representatives of the national parliaments.

Czechs have begun voting in a historic referendum on joining the European Union. Polls opened to the public at 2pm Friday. Among public figures who cast their ballots early in the afternoon were former president Vaclav Havel, who all along has indicated his support for the European Union, and current President Vaclav Klaus, who refrained from indicating this week which way he would cast his vote. Asked on Friday as he left the voting booth whether he would reveal his decision at last, the president had this to say:

"Definitely not. You know, I am absolutely sure my vote was the right one, and you may just guess."

Mr Klaus was also asked by journalists how he gauged the importance of the referendum for the Czech Republic overall:

"Well, it's an important moment in our effort to become, after thirteen years a normal, standard European country. In some respects the vote will be part of the whole process."

The polls close on Friday at 10pm local time. On Saturday they will reopen at 8am till 2pm, when final ballots must be cast. Unconfirmed results should be made available almost immediately after polls close. There is no minimum turnout needed for the referendum to be declared valid, but the vote is binding. If a majority of people vote "Yes" to joining the EU, there will be no need for the parliament to ratify accession. In the event of a "No" vote, the government can ask the president to hold a second referendum in two years' time. The latest opinion polls suggest that between 70 - 75 percent of those who come to the polls will vote for accession.