Summary of newsmakers of the previous day – 16.5.2006

New papermill? In one and half year

In summer months first building machines will set off in Opatovice and to start building a papermill for thirteen milliard crowns. The Papermill Labe should start to produce magazine and newspaper paper in autumn next year. So at least three quarters of year later than Finnish firm Mylykoski had planned. Without a positive judgement of influence in the environment Finns did not move from place. The Ministry after remarks of municipalities, of the region Pardubice, of surrounding firm and individuals introduced eighty two conditions which the company Myllykoski has to satisfy. The Finns agreed on the newest and definitive positive ministerial standpoint.

Brussels prepares rise in beer price

The European Commission prepares unpleasant surprise for beer-drinkers for next year. It wants to rise the price of their popular beverage. At this time a proposal for increase of consumer taxes for alcohol and beer by 31 percents is being made in Brussels institutions. “Since 1992 consumption taxes have remained unchanged. Therefore we want to propose a report till the end of year in which we will suggest increase of tax by inflation over the mentioned time”, the spokeswoman of commissioner for taxes, Maria Assimakotpoulou explains. According to information of MF Dnes the negotiation should take place already in September.

Ministers of Agriculture V4 refused again sanction for exceeding reserves

Representative of the Ministries of Agriculture of countries of Visegrad four came to an agreement in Senec today that they henceforward refuse sanction which threat them by the European Commission for exceeding reserves of agricultural and food products in accession in the EU in 2004. Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary want to obtain for a common declaration also six remaining states from the group of new EU member states. “We believe that exceeding reserves were neither on territory of the Slovak Republic nor other new member states”, Slovak Minister of Agriculture said to journalists. A possibility that Slovakia should pay a fine he supposed as completely unacceptable.

Government wants to support biofuels by milliards

Producers of biofuels will likely gain a support of as much as two and half milliard crowns from the state. The most significant firm Setuza of the entrepreneur Tomáš Pitr is among them. The government, according to information of HN, attaches to this variant of support of biofuels which will be added in all petrol and oil. “It is also possible to don’t subsidize biofuels at all or to introduce a return premium of consumption tax. However, as the most viable I suppose the direct subsidy to producers”, confirmed Karel Machovec, an advisor of the Minister of Agriculture who has biofuels in charge The Minister, Jan Mládek, himself does not want to tell his opinion before introducing it to the Cabinet for approval. It will be on the 31st May at the last government meeting before elections.