Summary of newsmakers from the previous day – 24.1.2006

EC is going to toughen control of drawing money from EU

Simpler rules for drawing money from the EU funds and their spending are promised by the European Commission in the prepared regulations which will execute a seven-year budget (2007-2013) approved in December. The easier disposal of money should be accompanied with a stricter control, especially at the national level. According to European commissioner Siim Kallas, European tax payers merit a certainty that their money reallocated through the Union are not misused. The implementation of changes will enable the European Court of Auditors to approve easier the EU budget close, the commissioner thinks. The European Commission prepares the new regulations on base of remarks of the European Parliament, the Council Ecofin and the European Court of Auditors.

Mládek: CR is henceforth threateedn with high fine from EU for excessive reserves

The Czech Republic is henceforth threatened with a fine from the European Commission in the amount of several million euros due to an alleged accumulation of reserves of goods before the accession in the EU. The Minister of Agriculture Jan Mládek admitted it after today’s negotiation with the commissioner Mariann Fisher-Böl. The commissioner threatened to governments of ten EU member states last year in the spring for a speculative reserves of key commodities with fines in the total height as many as 465 millions euro, from it almost 100 millions (roughly three milliards crowns) should fall to the Czech share.

Jan Fencl: Farmers, the cheapest gardeners!

Recently your newspaper has again turned to agricultural dotations (Why dotations belong on network, HN, January 17). I would like to add several remarks. At first, our agricultural dotations are less by 40 per cents than dotations to farmers in countries which entered into the Union before us. By connection of ten new members of the EU this difference seemed to be sufficient to representatives of the most powerful EU countries to moderate a fear of competition, especially of Czech and Hungarian farmers. Unfortunately, it seems that due to changes in the Common Agricultural Policy, what was agreed before the accession, i.e. the adjustment of dotations in 2012 at the same level for all 25 states, will not be observed.

Frostbitten fruits rot, potatoes get sweet

Temperatures deep below zero are not certainly favourable for fruit and vegetables. The State Agricultural and Food Inspection warn: Do not buy them on markets. Potatoes are vulnerable to frost, but are said to be well stored by growers. However, problems can appear during their transportation. In present temperatures they should be carried only in vans with body adjustment. Otherwise potatoes easily freeze.

Source: Agris, 25.01.2006