Czechs offered chance to pump extra 6.0 billion crowns from EU

The Czech Republic has been told by the European Commission that it can pump an extra 6.0 billion crowns, around 237 million euros, from EU funds until 2013. The reason for the increase is that the economy performed better than expected over the last three years. Neighbours Slovakia and Poland have also been given similar news. The extra funds should be used to reduce economic disparities across the EU. It will, however, be up to Czech authorities to claim the extra funds. The country’s record in pumping EU funds is one of the worst among the 27 EU members.