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The Czech Republic could start using the euro by 2010, Finance Minister Bohuslav Sobotka said on Tuesday. To meet the Masstricht criteria necessary to adopt the euro...

When the Czech Republic joins the European Union food prices should rise in accordance with the prices of agricultural products, though European Commission insiders predict undramatic rises in both sectors. Food prices in the country have risen considerably in the last twelve years.

The Czech Republic could start using the currency the euro by 2010, Finance Minister Bohuslav Sobotka said on Tuesday. Mr Sobotka said introducing the euro was a priority of the recently-formed government, adding that it was a realistic ambition. To meet the Masstricht criteria necessary to adopt the euro, the public deficit must not exceed three percent of gross domestic product. The Finance Ministry expects the public deficit to be down to 5.5 percent of GDP four years from now. The Czech Republic hopes to join the European Union in 2004.

As of August, imports of poultry from the European Union to the Czech Republic will be renewed, but only under new veterinary rules. According to the spokesman of the State Veterinary Administration, Josef Duben, the veterinary authority in the country of origin will be obliged to provide information as to whether the exported meat was modified with beef proteins. Poultry imports were banned earlier this month after beef proteins had been found in meat coming from the Netherlands. Modification by beef proteins is not allowed in the Czech Republic.

A European-Czech Forum representing chambers of commerce and industry of five EU countries has called on the new Czech government to radically reform legislation related to the business environment and to fight economic crime and corruption.

The European Commission is sending an advisor to the Czech Republic to help with the restructuring of the country's steel industry.

In the midst of Europe's latest food scandal, the Czech State Veterinary Office on Thursday announced an immediate ban on poultry imports from all EU member states. The ban was imposed in the wake of a discovery of beef proteins in poultry imported to the UK from the Netherlands. Josef Holejsovsky, the head of the State Veterinary Office, explains that a broad ban is not expected to remain in place for very for long.

Members of the Austrian parliament discussed on Wednesday what they termed "two obstacles" to Czech membership in the European Union, meaning the controversial Temelin nuclear power station and the post-war Benes Decrees which sanctioned the dispossession and expulsion of the Sudeten Germans from Czechoslovakia in 1945. The Austrian parliament also issued a statement calling for further talks on the possible closing of the Temelin power station situated close to the Czech-Austrian border. Earlier this year more than 900 thousand Austrians signed a petition in favour of blocking the Czech Republic's accession to the EU unless Temelin is shut down.

The European commissioner for enlargement, Guenter Verheugen, welcomed the formation of the new Czech government. Mr Verheugen said he was convinced that the new government would continue with pro-European policies. The Czech Republic plans to complete EU accession talks this year and could be admitted within the next enlargement wave in 2004.

Social Democrat leader Vladimir Spidla, who is expected to be appointed prime minister by President Vaclav Havel on Monday, said he was confident the government would achieve its main goal - that is to lead Czechs into the European Union.