Summary of newsmakers of the previous day - 5.12. 2006

PGRLF changes dotation payments system from next year

From the 1st of January of the next year the Subsidiary and Guarantee Rural and Forestry Fund (PGRLF, a.s.) changes dotation payment system in application accepted from the New Year. Tá ˙a Králová, the spokeswoman of the Ministry of Agriculture informed on it today. In her opinion a reason for it is an effort to draw the way of providing services near to requirements of the European Community.

Jan Veleby: Eastern sugar does not fulfill EU conditions for closure of sugar refineries

The Agrarian Chamber of the Czech Republic protested against decision of German-British sugar refinery Eastern sugar at a press conference yesterday in Brno. Its president Jan Veleba reported that the company had no reasons for its decision to close 3 sugar refineries. Economic results of Eastern sugar which were published today in Brno by the Agrarian Chamber (AK) do not fulfill conditions of the European regulation on base of which the firm wants to close the businesses in N˙m˙ice na Hané, in Kojetín and in Hroch˙v Týnec. “The firm showed gain 61.1 million crowns over the business year ending to the 31st May, 2006. An aim of sugar market reform is to reduce unprofitable sugar production”, the president of ACH, Jan Veleba, said to CTK yesterday.

Slovnaft began to sell bio-petrol in Slovakia

Slovak refineries Slovnaft started to sell petrol with additive of bio-component ETBE in its petrol stations. Slovakia is the first country from the countries of Visegrad four which produces and sells diesel oil and petrol with content of bio-components in the domestic market. It results from information which Slovnaft published today. It will also enable to cheapen this kind of petrol to the company, from Tuesday by 0,2 SK (0,16 CZK) for a liter. “In connection with introduction of petrol with content of the bio-component ETBE in the Slovak market Slovnaft will project a valid tax advantaging into its prices in full height”, the refinery reported. “If the bio-petrol does not start to be sold, the most used kind of petrol would rise in price regarding the development in international commodity markets”, she added.

State wants most of direct payments pays already this year

Vicenová: resources for year 2007 on good road. The State Agricultural Intervention Fund (SZIF), which fulfills a role of Paying Agency for division of European and national agrarian supports, wants still to send maximum of direct payments from the EU for this year to farmers till the end of this year. These basic supports for agricultural entrepreneurs which reach about 8,9 milliard crowns this year in the CR, are paid in form of payment per a unit of area in most new EU member states. This year 2518 crowns per hectare will be paid. More than 21 thousand of agricultural enterprises and private farmers have applied for these payments. The total sum will be divided in 3.493 million hectares of land.