Insight Central Europe

Among the stories we look at in this week's Insight Central Europe: now that the unemployment rate in the Czech Republic has breached the ten percent psychological barrier for the first time since the fall of communism - we look at possible forecasts for the near future. Also - we look at what effect a war in Iraq could have on the economies of EU candidate countries, and find out how Hungarian are sticking to their reputation for pessimism when it comes to comparing their financial situation with other countries in the region. Those stories and more all in this week's broadcast.

Here are the stories we look at in this week's Insight Central Europe:

Much has been overcome since abandoning a centrally planned economy since the fall of communism - but not unemployment. The Czech unemployment rate reached a record high of 10.2 percent in January - The first time it's exceeded the 10 percent barrier since the fall of communism in November of 1989. Czech employment offices registered over half a million job seekers last month.

And as US president George W Bush steps up the pressure on allies and the UN Security Council to support a war in Iraq, analysts say war won't help the job prospects of Central Europe's unemployed. We'll examine whether economic growth in the Central European candidate countries will slow in the event of war.

Also in this week's Insight Central Europe: we'll hear that Hungarians are sticking to their reputation being rather pessimistic when it comes to comparing their financial situation with other countries in the region.

Slovakia's fathers discover paternity leave. New Legislation in the country is trying to harmonise the competing demands of job and parenting.

We'll report that almost a thousand Slovene customers officers won't be popping champagne corks upon EU Accession - but looking for new jobs

And: the media and politics in Poland. Poland's top newspaper editor Adam Michnik has given evidence to an enquiry into alleged bribery of politicians by powerful media interests.