Insight Central Europe News

Hungary to join single currency in 2008

Hungarian Prime Minster Peter Medegyessy says his country is to join the euro zone on January 1, 2008. Hungary is the first EU accession country to set an official date for joining the single currency.

EU commission says Slovakia slow to prepare for EU entry

Slovakia has dismissed a report by the European Commission that says it is the least prepared EU accession country. Deputy Prime Minister Pal Csaky says the report was "out-of-date'.

Czech Republic to help in the reconstruction of Iraq

U.S President George Bush has praised Czech Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla for his "leadership and support". Mr Spidla is currently in the US for a weeklong visit and has pledged to help rebuild post war Iraq.

Polish court says EU referendum is valid

The Polish Supreme Court has upheld the validity of the country's European membership referendum. The case was brought to the court after several dozen protests of irregularities in the voting process.

Rupel calls on Austria to save Radio Dva

The Slovene foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel has called on Austria's Foreign Ministry to halt the closure of Austria's Slovene language radio station, Radio Dva. He's asked Foreign Minster Benita Ferrero Waldner to give financial assistance to allow the station to continue broadcasting until the end of the year.

2 dead after WW2 bomb explodes in Salzburg

An investigation is underway in Austria into the explosion of a world war two bomb in Salzburg. Two bomb disposal experts were killed and a third severely injured as they tried to defuse the 250-kilogram device.