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Crime in the Czech capital fell by nearly 10 percent last year to its lowest level in 15 years, Prague police spokesman Jan Daněk said on Thursday. Officers recorded 34,853 offences in the Czech capital, down 9.3 percent year-on-year. About 27 percent of cases were solved, roughly the same rate as the previous year.

The most common crimes were theft and burglary, accounting for 43 percent of all offences. The share of pickpocketing fell slightly, while fraud cases increased, partly due to the spread of modern technologies.

Police recorded 23 murders last year, compared with 19 a year earlier, and investigators say they know the perpetrators in all of those cases.

Violent crime made up about 4.6 percent of all crime. Sexual offences, which have been rising in recent years, accounted for roughly two percent.

The European Union could cover up to 75 percent of the cost of repatriation flights bringing Czech citizens home from the Middle East. The Czech government has asked the European Commission to help finance the flights through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš confirmed the request to Czech Radio, while the Commission also verified that the mechanism had been activated. The support is conditional on Prague offering spare seats to citizens of other EU countries. It is not yet clear which specific flights will qualify. Several other countries, including Slovakia, France and Italy, have also asked Brussels for similar assistance.

Czech MPs proposed reallocations worth nearly CZK 240 billion within this year’s state budget during the second reading in the Chamber of Deputies. The amount represents about ten percent of total planned spending. Opposition parties want to move more funds to defence and security, housing support and culture, mainly by cutting spending on transport discounts, renewable energy subsidies, agricultural support and the government reserve. The governing coalition has also suggested several shifts, including more money for sports infrastructure and youth organisations. Finance Minister Alena Schillerová criticised the opposition for what she called obstruction during the debate. MPs are due to take a final vote on the budget next Wednesday.

Repatriation flights carrying Czech citizens stranded in the Middle East landed in Prague on Wednesday morning. A Czech military aircraft brought about 40 passengers from Egypt, while a government Airbus arrived shortly afterwards with nearly 100 people evacuated Oman. The flights are part of efforts to bring home Czech citizens affected by the conflict in the region. A Czech military Airbus airplane has since later departed Prague for Sharm el-Sheikh to collect more passengers and will later continue to Muscat. Commercial flights operated by Smartwings are also returning Czechs to Prague, mainly tourists who travelled with package tours. Several more flights from Oman and Dubai are expected.