Summary of newsmakers of the previous day – 25.9. 2007

Three countries will swallow half of agricultural EU subsidies

France, Spain and Germany obtained the biggest share from the EU treasury last year. French farmers are the most hardworking receivers of subsidies while Spain and Italy enjoy money for investment in the infrastructure. According to a report on division of a parcel of 106 billion Euros in 2006, west-European countries conducted the best. France, Spain and Germany shared together 47 percents of direct agricultural subsidies. At the same time Spain lead a scale of money receivers from structural funds which should help to finance large investment. It obtained almost eighteen percent of this money, followed by Italy and Germany.

Euro-representatives did not succeed to save sugar

The European Commission is not satisfied in what pace a reform of sugar market organization, started in January this year, progresses. An original reform intention to reduce sugar production by six million tons by the year 2010, so that the Union would fulfill its engagements in frame of the World Trade Organization, is not successfully realized. That's why the European Commission brought the reform which should fasten the whole process. “I have to state that the present course of the sugar reform cased huge damages to the Czech Republic when from an exporter it became a state dependent of import of sugar. I admit that regarding international engagements of the Union it is necessary to continue in reduction of sugar production, but I deny realization of it at the expense of the Czech Republic”, Euro-representative Jan Březina (KDU-ČSL).

Only birds bred for own need can be imported in the EU

Thanks to a risk of bird flu, according to a spokesman of the State Veterinary Administration of the CR (SVS) Josef Duben, import of birds in the EU for business purpose is further substantially limited. On base of a decision of the Commission No. 2007/25/ES there is an exception which accommodates people who for example move with their bird-pets. It states that it is possible with appropriate veterinary confirmations to import bird in the EU on non-business, however, only on a condition that birds are accompanied by their owner. However, maximally five pieces”, Duben emphasized.

Start of spending money from EU funds is possible

The first work discussion of bodies operating in the implementation structure of National Strategic Referential Frame (NSRR) took place on the 20th of September, 2007.From the negotiation it results that start of spending financial means from the EU structural funds is possible already before termination of negotiation of operational programs with the European Commission (EC). At this meeting in which representatives of the Ministry for Local Development, the Ministry of Finances and managing bodies of operational programs participated topics connected with realization of NSRR were discussed including detailed identification with of force of managing and coordinating mechanisms which will be applied for successful fulfillment of NSRR's aims.