Paroubek vows to keep fighting for EU funds in budget negotiations

The Czech prime minister, Jiri Paroubek, says he will keep fighting for more money for the Czech Republic during negotiations on the European Union's 2007-2013 budget in Brussels. Mr Paroubek said his main objection was that the budget proposed by Britain includes development fund calculations made on the basis of figures for Czech GDP growth which are below the current level of 5%. The prime minister said this could cost the Czech Republic up to 500 million euros.