Schroeder: Temelin dispute no obstacle to EU entry

The German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has said the Czech Republic's policy to keep open its controversial Temelin nuclear power plant will not hamper the country's entry into the European Union. Speaking after a meeting on Tuesday with the Czech Prime Minister Milos Zeman, Mr Schroeder said there were differences of opinion between Germany and the Czech Republic on nuclear policy, but said they would not be an obstacle to EU membership. Mr Schroeder was speaking to reporters following a visit to the Skoda Auto car plant, which is now owned by Germany's Volkswagen group. Chancellor Schroeder described Volkswagen's investment in Skoda as a model of both German-Czech economic co-operation and how eastern European firms could modernise. Mr Schroeder also praised the Czech Republic for working hard to prepare its economy for EU membership.