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The Czech government's pro-EU campaign is to be launched on May 1st, some six weeks before Czechs are due to vote on EU membership in a national referendum. The campaign, for which the government earmarked 200 million crowns, includes TV spots, discussion programmes and panel debates, billboards and leaflets. The government is already operating a toll free phone line on EU matters and within the next few weeks every Czech household should get materials outlining the main points of the Czech Republic's association agreement with the EU.

French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin, who is currently on an official trip to Prague, met with senior Czech politicians on Monday to lobby for a stronger Europe. Speaking in the Senate, Mr Villepin said that Europe can not depend on one power to solve the problems of the world. It is therefore necessary to actively and ambitiously focus on the future of the EU as Europe needs to be strong and speak with one voice, in order to be comparable to the United States. Referring to a letter signed in January by eight senior European politicians, including former Czech President Vaclav Havel, backing the US pro-war stance on Iraq, Mr Villepin said such examples of disagreement in Europe should serve as a lesson to the EU to take the necessary steps to avoid division in the future.

British Defence Minister Geoff Hoon said on Monday that Britain is ready and willing to help the Czech Republic attain supersonic fighter jets to replace its ageing fleet of MiG 21s. With the MiG 21s to be replaced by 2005 at the latest, the Czech government is soon to decide what jets will be used to protect the country's airspace in the future. The Czech Republic is closely considering an offer of 14 older F-3 Tornado jets, which are to be replaced in the British armed forces in the next few years. In an interview with the CTK news agency, Mr Hoon said he would discuss the issue with his Czech counterpart during his official trip to Prague on Wednesday. He is also expected to meet with Czech President Vaclav Klaus, Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla, and Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda.

A delegation of Czech Senators from the upper house's European Integration Committee have left for London for a three day visit to discuss the Union's future after expansion. The Senators will be meeting with senior British government officials as well as representatives of the European Parliament in the UK. The Czech Republic, along with nine other countries, is expected to join the EU in 2004.

President Vaclav Klaus has officially announced that a referendum on whether the Czech Republic should join the European Union will be held on Friday June 13 and Saturday June 14. It will be the first referendum in the country's history and will be preceded by a large advertising campaign in support of membership. If the referendum is passed the Czech Republic is expected to join the EU on May 1, 2004.

President Vaclav Klaus has officially announced that a referendum on whether the Czech Republic should join the European Union will be held on Friday June 13 and Saturday June 14. It will be the first referendum in the country's history and will be preceded by a large advertising campaign in support of membership. If the referendum is passed the Czech Republic is expected to join the EU on May 1, 2004.

A mix of headlines on the front pages - Mlada Fronta Dnes leads with a new opinion poll claiming support for Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla has fallen from 75 percent in September to just under half that today. Meanwhile Lidove Noviny says flat prices have risen by 25 percent in the first quarter of this year. And Hospodarske Noviny warns of a brain drain to Brussels as the nation's finest look for new jobs with the European Union.

The Czech Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla and his Danish counterpart Anders Fogh Rasmussen say they oppose a plan to create the post of President of the European Union. Mr Rasmussen, visiting Prague, said he was sceptical towards the idea, proposed by the chairman of the EU Convention on the future of Europe, Valery Giscard D'Estaing. The Danish prime minister said a full-time EU president - who would represent the EU internationally and chair meetings of the EU Council of Ministers - would lead to big member states having greater power over smaller ones. Prime Minister Spidla said Czech and Danish attitudes to the future of the EU were extremely close.

President Vaclav Klaus will call a referendum on the country's EU entry next week. Parliament has recommended a June 13th and 14th term and a spokesman for the President's office said on Friday that President Klaus would officially announce the referendum for those dates on April 24th. Opinion polls suggest that the Czech Republic will approve EU membership by a large margin.

Meanwhile, a row has broken out between President Klaus and Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda in the wake of the signing of the EU accession treaty in Athens on Wednesday. President Klaus says he feels insulted by remarks that the Foreign Minister made when speaking to journalists in the wake of the ceremony. The Foreign Minister allegedly said that President Klaus' knowledge of the workings of the European Union was "superficial and inadequate". The President's spokesman Tomas Klavana said the remarks were "uncalled for, incorrect and misleading". The President has reportedly demanded an explanation in person but according to the Foreign Minister's spokesman Mr. Svoboda has no intention of going to Prague Castle "to be mentored by the head of state".