Summary of newsmakers of the previous day – 4.5.2006

Countryside can obtain support of 93 mld. CZK in seven years

Roughly 93 milliard crowns could be obtained in years 2007 – 2013 by the countryside and agriculture from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and from co-financing contribution of the Czech Republic. It should represent 20 milliards from the total sum, the rest falls on EU resources. It results from the National Strategic Plan of Rural Development which the Ministry of Agriculture will introduce to the government on Wednesday. According to the Ministerial proposal 22 percent odd from the yearly sum of 13,4 milliard crowns should go for competitiveness of agriculture, forestry and food industry; approximately 55 percent for improvement of environment of life and landscape; less than 17 percent for enlargement of range of economic activities and support of quality of life in the countryside; and approximately five percent for support of intentions of rural partnerships.

H5N1 is away, it could return in autumn

Poultry breeders can rest. In South Bohemia veterinarian measures against bird flu end today. Among those who wait impatiently so that everything will return to normal again also Anton Köszegi belongs who has a farm with ten thousand chickens and wild geese in the centre of area where twelve swans died of the virus H5N1 were found out gradually. “Well, we survived”, Köszegi says today. With impatience he waits now for a result of negotiation among the Ministry of Agriculture, the Agrarian Chamber, representatives of farmers and poultry purchasers on compensation for damages caused by restriction of business. “Losses are large, well, we had to stop the production”, Köszegi says. He has not had exact losses data yet. “I will wait until that all ands and than I will count it”, Kószegi adds. He has its family farm neat Hluboká nad Vltavou where the first swan with bird flu in the Czech Republic was found out.

Czech farmer brought fame to himself by “fight” with EU

One small sign and Petr Hájek from Pohorská Ves became the most famous farmer in the Czech Republic year ago. To avoid strict hygienic regulation set by the European Union Hájek started to sell his famous goat cheeses officially sell as feed for animals. He wrote in the sign literally: “Nonconforming with EU norm, destined for feeding purposes, tested on people”.

Czech Republic can not draw money from EU funds

Meanwhile, the Czech Republic is not successful in drawing money from funds of the European Union, experts from main political party means regarding foreign policy. They agreed on that at yesterday’s international conference the Czech Republic and Future of Europe.