Czech news agency CTK review of major events in Czech-EU ties in 2001.

Text of report in English by Czech news agency CTK

[This press review has not been edited for content, nor have personal names and party names, abbreviations, etc. been amended.]

Prague, 12 December: The following is a review of major events in Czech Republic-EU relations in 2001.

JANUARY

3. - International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) calls on European Commission chairman Romano Prodi to have problems of public Czech Television (CT) examined and to take it into consideration in negotiations on Czech Republic's accession to the European Union. Prodi says on January 8 that the matter is not obstacle to EU accession negotiations.

18. - European Parliament chairwoman Nicole Fontaine calls on Cuban President Fidel Castro to immediately release from prison Czech deputy Ivan Pilip (Freedom Union) and former Czech student activist Jan Bubenik. Sweden, then EU presidential country, does the same on January 22.

- As of this date the Czech Republic puts a ban on import of cattle and most of beef products from Switzerland and all EU countries excluding Austria, Greece, Finland and Sweden for fears of BSE.

FEBRUARY

1. - The Czech Republic starts a more advance phase of relations with EU which Czech/EU Association Council approved on …