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APPROVED The coalition government’s proposed reforms to the country’s tax and social-subsidy systems passed their first test in the Parliament, receiving first-reading approval last week. Several prominent critics of the bill, including Vlastimil Tlustý of the Civic Democrats, abstained from voting and have vowed to seek changes before the bill’s second and third readings, expected in August.BUDGET The Cabinet approved a preliminary budget for 2008 on June 11 that would reduce the deficit to 78.4 billion Kč ($3.7 billion). Dependent on public-finance reforms currently with Parliament, the budget would see spending cuts at the Regional Development, Agriculture, Culture and Industry and Trade Ministries. DEFENSE Defense Minister Vlasta Parkanová has announced an audit of a contract that was set to supply the Army with phone and Internet service from 2007 to 2011, Právo reported on June 12. Parkanová wants to know why the 800 million Kč contract was not being awarded through a public tender.URANIUM The Russian nuclear fuel supplier Tvel is interested in investing in the Czech Republic’s uranium mining operations, the company’s vice president said in Hospodářské noviny June 11. To cover his company’s contract with the Temelín power plant alone, Tvel needs 400 metric tons of uranium a year — greater than the country’s total annual production. INCENTIVES The Senate approved a bill reforming Czech investment incentives June 7. The Industry and Trade Ministry expects that the reforms will save the country billions of crowns by tightening the requirements for incentives and cutting support for building new assembly plants. The ministry wants the incentives to encourage regional development, focusing on areas with high unemployment.DSL Vodafone Czech Republic will begin offering broadband Internet access through DSL thanks to a contract it signed with the fixed-line operator Radiokomunikace in May, the companies said to the Czech News Agency June 6. Analysts expect T-Mobile will soon follow suit and also begin offering DSL access.BIDDING ČEZ is bidding to win a strategic role in the construction of a 2000-megawatt power plant by the Bulgarian state power utility, the company said in a statement. The winner of the tender will receive a 49 percent stake in the joint venture and will be responsible for financing, operating and managing the plant.FILED As promised, the Czech Republic filed a lawsuit June 6 against the European Commission over the cut in carbon emissions the country was granted for 2008-2012. The country had requested 102 million metric tons a year, but received only 86.8 million metric tons. The suit is lodged with the European Court of Justice and could last several years.
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