Summary of newspapers of the previous days – 30.6.- 2.7.2006

MMR: Only about half of money has been meanwhile spent from EU funds for year 2004

From about 394 million Euros (11,2 milliard CZK) which the Czech Republic can use from the EU structural funds till the end of this year only about a half of means has been spent. Radko Martínek, the Minister for Local Development (MMR) said it at a press conference. According to him about 80 percents of the total sum will be successfully obtained in the end. Due to a swing of exchange rate of crown in face of Euro the MMR registers now a surplus of spending 1,5 milliard crowns. Therefore it considers whether the money could be obtained from programs where the means are sufficient. It also negotiates with the Ministry of Finances on a possibility to switch to financing in Euro from 2007 and not in crowns.

Nest robbers got suspension of sentences

In case of members of an organized group, which pilfered nests of protected birds and sold chicks illegally, the court in Frýdek Místek imposed eight suspensions of sentences and public works in total extent of almost 700 hours. 12 accused came before the judge. Eight of them heard a sentence. The judge punished the most hardly a vet who is said to buy chicks from the gang a nd to sold them next. He got a year suspension sentence with a trial period for three years. “He should have protected the animals not to sell them”, the judge said.

Diseases from Africa progress northward

Climate warming of and expansion of trade from Africa northward it is said to spread animal disease, which have been limited for a long time on Africa, to Europe. For example catarrhal fever of sheep has spread since 2000 in Corsica where it came from North Africa across Sicily. Suring several years it hit Pyrenean peninsula and whole Italian territory. In France a sudden occurrence of the disease showed how the country is unprepared. In the whole France there was the only expert on mosquitoes of the family Culicoides which transfer the disease. He has to be sent for inoculant as far as in South African Republic.

Government of the Czech Republic passed National strategic Plan of Rural Development

Czech agriculture and countryside will be able to draw about 13,4 milliard crowns in yearly average for next seven years from the European agricultural fund for rural development (EAFRD). In 2007-2013 93 milliard crowns should be invested according to the National strategic plan in agriculture and rural development. 73 milliard would be provided by the European Union and the rest would be financed from the national budget. The passed material gives 22,39 % financial means from the total yearly allotment for axis I – strengthening of competitiveness of agriculture, forestry and food industry. The strategy gives 55,2 % of financial means to axis II concerning improvement of environment and landscape. 16,93 % of financial means should be allotted to axis III concerned to diversification of rural economy and improvement of quality of life in these areas.

Source: Agris, 3.7.2006