News

The Supreme Public Prosecutor’s Office has released its annual report, in which it states that the rate of criminality in the Czech Republic has not changed over the long-term, though there have been changes in the rates of particular crimes and the participation of foreigners. The report states for example that murder investigations are declining, down to 177 from 280 in 1999. Increases have been noted elsewhere however, for example in economic crimes such as customs and tax fraud. New trends have also been seen in human trafficking in the Czech Republic, particularly involving forced labour and prostitution. The Public Prosecutor’s Office also stated it could not rule out a coming rise in criminality as a result of the global economic crisis.

The government is to discuss a new regional development plan on Monday that reportedly includes controversial plans for the Czech Republic’s nuclear power plants. The news servers Aktualne.cz and Deník.cz reported that in addition to proposing the completion of the Temelín nuclear power plant, the development plan also insinuates the construction of a third nuclear fission plant in North Moravia. Ecologists and civic organisations have bristled at the plan, which they say is ecologically and financially unsound, and should at least be left to an elected, rather than caretaker, government.

One of the largest Czech travel agencies, Tomi Tour, has declared bankruptcy, literally marooning some 3,000 of its clients currently on holiday outside the Czech Republic. Czech Airlines has announced it would be working with the Slovakian insurance company Union pojišťovna to send empty airliners for the stranded holidaymakers, who are mainly in Egypt, Majorca and Turkey. Approximately 10,000 people currently have trips purchased from Tomi Tour, and can apply for compensation from Union pojišťovna. Tomi Tour is the third travel agency in the Czech Republic to declare bankruptcy this summer. According to the Association of Czech Travel Agencies, its closure marks the industry’s most serious case of insolvency in the last 12 years.

New Canadian visa restrictions require that Czechs provide more personal information on visa applications than other citizens of EU states. The situation was reported by Czech Television and TV Prima on Friday and confirmed by the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Czech visa applicants are required to provide specific information on their employment, residence and income, as well as that of their parents and partners. According to diplomatic agreements in place, however, Czech citizens should have the same conditions as other EU countries. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated it would demand an explanation from the Canadian embassy next week. Canada reintroduced visa requirements on Czech citizens during the week in reaction to the high number of asylum applications from the Czech Republic - mostly from members of the Roma community.