Insight Central Europe News
Slovakia, Austria and Germany ratify the EU constitution
The parliaments of a further three European Union countries have overwhelmingly endorsed the European constitution. On Wednesday only 27 members of the Slovak parliament voted against ratifying the document, and support was even more overwhelming in Austria's lower house, although the upper house still has to confirm the ratification. On Thursday Germany's lower house of parliament also voted by a huge majority to approve the constitution. In order to take effect the constitution needs the support of all the bloc's members. Poland and probably also the Czech Republic will be deciding by national referendum.
Poland's president calls for a unified EU policy towards Russia
Poland's President Aleksander Kwasniewski has called for a unified European Union policy towards Russia, to prevent the growing divergence in individual countries' policies towards the EU's big neighbour to the east. In the wake of recent tensions between Poland and Russia, Mr Kwasniewski said that it was damaging to pursue separate policies which would strengthen some countries' contacts instead of working for unity. The Poles and the Baltic States are increasingly frustrated by their ties with Moscow, while France and Germany are currently enjoying warm political and economic relations with Russia.
The Czech Republic's new government survives a no confidence vote
The new Czech government has survived a confidence vote in parliament by a margin of just one vote, ending a prolonged political crisis in the country. The government of Social Democrat Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek should now be able to remain in power until elections scheduled in a year's time. The new centre-left government is made up of the same three parties as its predecessor, which collapsed after a row over the then prime minister's personal finances. Mr Paroubek said that the government's prime goal will be the approval of the EU constitution.
Hungary annuls exam results after leak
The Hungarian government has had to annul the results of the national high school graduation exam for mathematics, because the questions were posted on the Internet the day before it took place. Some 30,000 students will have no choice but to retake the test. The Education Ministry has also rushed to print new question papers in all other subjects, to preempt further leaks. The police have launched a criminal investigation.
Austrian police dismantle human trafficking ring
Austrian police have arrested 59 people and dismantled a human trafficking ring believed to have smuggled some 5,000 illegal immigrants into the European Union. Other alleged members of the network were arrested in Poland, Romania, and Hungary. Austrian authorities said the gang used Austria as their main transit country, demanding up to 4,000 euros to smuggle the would-be immigrants in dangerous and sometimes extremely cramped conditions.
