Russia warns there may be oil-stoppage due to unresolved problems with Ukraine

Russia has warned the European Commission it might halt oil supplies to Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic over an unresolved dispute with Ukraine. Although Slovakia has confirmed receiving a warning from Brussels, the Czech government says it has as yet received no official announcement.

Trade and Industry Minister Tomáš Bartovský said on Monday there was no cause for immediate concern since the Czech Republic had oil reserves for up to three months.

Czech cabinet approves long-term strategy for Romany integration

The Czech cabinet has unanimously approved a long-term government strategy for the integration of the Romany minority by 2013. The first phase of the program, it aims to create equal work and education opportunities and reverse the ongoing ghettoisation of Czech Romanies

Canada has started issuing visas to Czechs in Prague

The Canadian embassy in Prague has now started issuing visas in Prague. Previously, applications had to be sent to Vienna. Ottawa reintroduced visas for Czechs in mid-July because of the high number of refugee claimants from the Czech Republic, mainly Romanies. There is no Canadian consulate in the Czech capital and Czechs had to travel to Vienna for a visa. Czech officials have welcomed the move but said they would continue to push for the re-introduction of visa-free travel between the two countries. The Czech Republic blames Canada’s benevolent asylum system for the flow of refugees and as an EU member state has put pressure on Brussels to effect a reciprocal measure.