Czech TV: Telicka considering leaving the civil service

Public broadcaster Czech TV has reported that the Czech Republic's current Commissioner to the European Union, Pavel Telicka, is considering giving up the civil service once his mandate ends in October this year. Mr Telicka's original mandate - till 2009 - was cut short by the Czech government following the collapse of the cabinet of Vladimir Spidla, who has since been nominated for the post of Commissioner in Mr Telicka's stead.

On Friday Mr Telicka told Czech TV he could not say whether he would stay on in Brussels or return to Prague, indicating he might take a step towards a career in the private sector. Earlier, in July, he refused current Prime Minister Stanislav Gross' offer to take on an advisory post in the Foreign Office.