Insight Central Europe News
Israeli president pays a historic visit to Austria
The Isreali president, Moshe Katsav has made the first ever visit by an Israeli head of state to Austria. At the Mauthausen concentration camp, he laid a wreath at a memorial for Austrian Holocaust victims. Relations between the two countries have at times been strained by the legacy of World War Two, but the Israeli president said that he had not come to Vienna in order to dwell on the past. The head of Austria's Jewish community said that the visit was a step toward normalcy in Austrian-Israeli relations.
New EU members clash with US over visas
The United States has asked the new European Union members not to put further pressure on the country to waive visa requirements for visiting the US. Of the ten new EU members, only Slovenian citizens no longer require a US visa, and at talks in Brussels the new members warned that they might consider reciprocating with a clause that would oblige all fellow EU countries to require visas for visiting US citizens.
Pope John Paul hopes to visit Poland next year
The Pope plans to visit his native Poland in 2005, according to the head of the Polish church, Cardinal Jozef Glemp. The Cardinal said that John Paul II had responded to an invitation to the country, and had said that he was full of hope that he would be able to come. Despite ill health the Pope has shown no desire to stop travelling internationally. He has visited Poland nine times in his 26 years in office.
Slovenia expresses support for Bulgaria and Romania to join the EU
Slovenia has promised to support Bulgaria and Romania's entry into the European Union in 2007. At a meeting with her Slovene counterpart the Bulgarian Euro-integration minister Meglena Kuneva, also praised Slovenia's patience en route to the EU, as it waited for the other nine countries that joined at the same time to become equally prepared for entry.
Slovak parliament overrides president over health care reforms
The Slovak Parliament has overridden a presidential veto of part of a series of radical health care reform bills. The package of reforms, which has led to fierce political debate, includes privatizing hospitals, and making patients themselves cover the costs for some aspects of their care.
European Commission says more progress needed over euro
The European Commission has said none of the ten newcomer states are ready to join the single European currency. European Union financial chiefs concluded at their meeting on Wednesday that none of the countries vying to join the now 12 nation Euro-zone fulfilled the five tests for euro membership.
