Summary of newsmakers of the previous day – 30.5.2006

EU Ministries are against other concessions in negotiation of WTO

The ministries of agriculture of the European Union countries disagree so that the European Commission brings other concessions in form of lower custom duties for agricultural export on negotiation on global trade liberalization in frame of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Austrian minister Josef Pröl reported it at today’s meeting of ministers in Austrian Kremže. The WTO members fixed a term for reaching conformity on basic elements of entire agreement at the end of July. The main point of controversy remains agricultural trade and according to a head of WTO, Pascal Lamy, all three main block – the EU, the USA and big developing countries headed by Brazil have to make concessions. Otherwise there is a danger that so called Qatar round of negotiations will be wasting of time and especially poor countries will suffer from it.

Since July prevention against fires in forests is secured by air fire-fighting service

The Ministry of Agriculture CR (MZe) in accordance with law on fire protection secured for this year functioning of supervision of air fire-fighting service. A spokesman of MZe, Tomáš Loskot, informed about it today and added that it is dealt with a service for owners and users of forests in continuous forest growths with a total acreage higher than 50 hectares. The service will be secured in period since the 1st June till the 30th October this year in forests at c. 70 % area of the Czech Republic. The Ministry of Agriculture will spend on it 12,5 mil. CZK.

Commission started campaign for reduction of emission of green-house gases

The European Commission started a campaign yesterday which appeals to the EU residents to contribute in their everyday activity in reduction of emission of green-house gases. According to findings of the European Commission households create almost 16 % emissions of green-house gases in the European Union and motor car cause other 10 %. About 61 % green-house gas emissions arise in consequence of production and consumption of energy. The second biggest contaminator of air is transport with 21 %. The Commission emphasizes that every resident of the Union produces yearly about eleven tons of green-house gases, especially carbon dioxide.

Unfair businessmen. Fines 50 millions

Since today unfair businessmen are in threat of a fine as many as 50 million crowns instead of present one million. A new amendment of act on consumer protection has come in force, which tightens the sanctions. The law which the President Václav Klaus signed at the beginning of May establishes a duty for sellers to issue written confirmation on terms and a way of disposal of a complaint and regulates sale on market-halls. According to legislators higher fines should repel businessmen from using unfair practices in sale.