Strict norms on sewage facilities still a problem for many Czech towns

Over three hundred towns and villages in the Czech Republic still fail to meet strict EU norms regarding water-cleaning and sewage facilities. The delay is caused by a lack of finances and the Czech government is planning to ask the European Commission for extra time in order to avoid tough sanctions. Meeting the norms would cost approximately 44 billion crowns, only a third of which could be covered from EU structural funds.