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Czech Republic
Physical. The Czech Republic is located in the Northern Hemisphere,
approximately in the middle of the European Continent. Its neighbouring states
are Germany (to the west), Poland (to the north), Slovakia (to the east, which
together with the Czech Republic constituted Czechoslovakia until 1992) and
Austria (to the south). The Czech Republic does not have access to the sea. The
main watershed divides the catchment areas of the North, Baltic and Black seas.
The closest seas are the Baltic and the Mediterranean - both of which are very
popular destinations for Czech travellers.
From a geographical point of view, the Czech Republic lies on the boundary line
of two mountain ranges. The hilly western and middle part of Bohemia is formed
by the Czech highlands and the slightly higher mountain ranges, the West
Carpathian Mountains (Beskydy) lie in the eastern part of the country.
The Czech countryside offers a pleasant combination of mountains, water, meadows
and forests. The Czech Republic is a landlocked country located in moderate
geographical latitudes. The seasonal changes of weather create a unique
environment for various leisure activities, relaxation, sports and agricultural
activities, without placing a burden on the environment.
With a total area of almost 79,000 square kilometres, the Czech Republic is a
midsize European country. The country could fit 122 times within the area of the
United States. The Czech Republic makes up 2% of the land area of the European
Union. The country comprises three historical regions - Bohemia, Moravia and
Silesia. Bohemia is the largest, the area of Moravia is half the size of
Bohemia, and the smallest land, Silesia, has an area of approximately 4,500
square kilometres. Administratively, the Czech Republic is divided into 14
regions; one of those being the capital city of Prague. The largest region -
Central Bohemia - surrounds Prague from all sides.
People. Approximately 10.3 million people live in the Czech Republic.
Czech is the official language. The population is ethnically diverse: Czech
(95%), Slovak (3%), Polish (0,6 %) and German (0,5%). Roma, Ukrainian,
Vietnamese and Chinese belong to minorities. Religions practiced in the Czech
Republic are: 40% atheist, 39,2 % Roman Catholic, 4,6% Protestant, 3% Orthodox
Church and 13,4% others.
Government. Czech Republic is an official name of the state. Its capital,
Praha, is located in Central Bohemia. The nation is a parliamentary democracy,
with its president elected by inhabitants to a five-year term. The prime
minister is appointed by the president. Some active political parties include
the Civic Democratic Party (ODS), the Czech Social Democratic Party (ČSSD), the
Christian and Democratic Union, Czechoslovak People’s Party (KDU-CSL), the
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM), the Green Party. Only those
political parties that gained at least 5% of notes through elections are
represented in the Chamber of Deputies, while the Senate mandates are attained
by majority vote.
Economy. Between 1993 and 2006 the Czech economy as a whole underwent
some significant structural changes. Overall, the country experienced a decrease
in the proportion of agriculture and industry to that of service sector in the
country’s GDP. This phenomenon occurred, with varying degrees of intensity, in
all regions of the country. During the last several years, GDP in the Czech
Republic has been very satisfactory and this trend looks likely to continue in
the future. Annual growth in the second quarter of 2006 was calculated at 6.2%
while the average of the EU 25 was 2.8%. This increase was due in large part to
industrial manufacturing and building. As a result, the Czech Republic currently
has the fastest growing economy in the European Union and has further
established its economic position on the international stage. The Czech Republic
has a long tradition especially in a heavy industry - in metallurgy and
mechanical engineering related to the raw materials resources. The auto, rubber
making, armament, energy and consumer goods industries are very important, as
are traditional industries such as glass-making.
The reciprocal value of the employment rate, general unemployment rate, on
average reached 8.1% during the first half of 2005, and was 0.35 p.p. lower
compared to the same period of 2004. The registered unemployment rate reached
9.2% during this period, which presents a drop of 0.1 p.p. compared to the first
half of 2004. Over 10 years, unemployment in the Czech Republic grew 7%. During
the past three years, no dramatic turn occurred; unemployment fluctuates around
10%.
Areas of concern
• Protection of Czech nature is a necessary component of efforts leading to the
preservation the unique character and variety of the Czech Republic. The
activities of people have a negative impact on natural ecosystems, and
jeopardize the existence of flora and fauna.
• Long-term unemployment is significantly preconditioned by the education level.
Tendencies of long-term unemployment are increasing for the physically
challenged and higher age groups. As a result of long-term loss of contact with
employment, the long-term unemployed lose their work habits, and hence are not
able to compete on the job market and their probability of employment decreases.
• Preservation and development of natural areas.
• Economic challenges include maintaining a balanced budget.
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