Summary of newsmakers of the previous day – 4.1.2007

CR will not return nor Euro from European dotations

The Czech Republic will not be definitely deprived of any money from European funds which had to be used by the end of 2006. According to actual data on drawing to the 31st December 2006 money have been successfully spent also in programs for the city Prague where there was a real threat of return of money even a month ago. Money earmarked in European funds for 2004 the CR has spent from 160 % and now it uses money for the year 2005 (which have to be spent by the end of 2007).

New rules for transport of animals will come in force on Friday

New rules for transport of animals will come in force on Friday in the European Union. For example new vehicles transporting slaughter and stud animals for long distances will have been equipped with a satellite navigation system and their drivers have to pass a special training. This legislative should limit a stress and harm which animals can suffer during transportation by land and by sea. It was announced by a commissioner for health and consumer protection, Markos Kyprianu, today. According to new rules vehicles transporting animals for the duration longer then eight hours have to be equipped with new devices and have to have an official certificate. The new equipment should secure better ventilation and better conditions for security of a drinking regime of animals.

Decision of MZe will deprive eco-agriculture of 300 million CZK

According to the PRO-BIO association, a decision of the Ministry of Agriculture according to which eco-farmers will be able to apply for higher supports from a new rural development program as late as in autumn will deprive ecological agriculture of about 300 million crowns of dotations. The association wants to the Ministry keep the originally promised term and so that application be accepted already in spring, so even for this year. CTK was told it by representatives of PRO-BIO. According to a spokeswoman of the office, Tá˙a Králov, farmers will not be deprived of the money. “However, the European Commission has not approved the program of development yet and then definitive rule are not known”, Králová explained a shift of the term.

Ecological taxes will increase prices of raw materials

Ecological tax reform as the present government plans it will have three stages. Each of them will touch wallets of all citizens. In the first stage energetic products and electricity will be taxed from January 2008. The second stage should start after 2010. It should concern again energies as well as a revision of current ecological payments and measures in transport. In the third stage between years 2014 and 2017 further enlargement of taxes is planned for raw material resources, products, services and utilization of the nature.