Summary of newsmakers from the previous day 23.6.2005

WHO supported gene-modified foods with emphasis on checking

Health agency of the UNO supported a development of genetically modified food today, because it can bring a profit to farmers and consumers. There are no evidence s that some of present gene-enriched products would bear some health risks; however, their checking will be necessary, claimed today The World Healthy Organization (WHO) in a report on genetically modified food. In that way it confirmed that health anxiety about GM food, enlarged mainly in Europe, it considers as spurious. There are sharp disputes on introduction of these products in Europe and a loss in the World Trade Organization threatens to the EU in this matter. At the WTO the USA, Canada and Argentina complained of a moratorium to an access to market of otherwhere-checked food.

Slovakia will speed up expropriation

The Slovakian parliament confirmed a law today which will evidently speed up expropriation of land for buildings in a public interest, including some private investments. Indeed, the law was refused by the president but its veto was broken by the Parliament and a novel of building act was passed again. However, deputies took cognizance of the head of state.

Standpoint of Agricultural Association CR to Green Report

The Green Report confirms that in 2004 economic results improved generally in entire agriculture first of all thanks to extraordinary yields in plant production and an increase of dotations connected with the accession in the European Union. In that way a significant profit was achieved, and also increase of incomes and agricultural production in common prices by 23,5 % (from it plant production by 39,3%) compared to the last year; in total, however, only to the level of 1998. Legal entities enterprises dont share in that growth; they recorded a production fall by 8,2 %, from it plant production by 10,6 %. To the profit increase also extraordinarily favourable prices of plant production of the year 2004 contributed and a high share of unsold reserves from a harvest of 2004 whose sale in the next year is connected with a decrease of plant production prices which is now 40 % and will influence a result of the year 2005.

Grant program for environmental education enters the second round

On Wednesday, June 22 the Ministry of Environment CR (MŽP) proclaimed a next round of grant program in which it is possible to gain financial means from the European Social Fund and a state budget to strengthen and enlarge a network of advisory and information centers in the Czech Republic regions. A chairman of external relations of the MŽP, Jakub Kašpar, informed about it.