British Airways and Iberia sign memorandum of understanding for merger
British Airways and Iberia of Spain have signed a memorandum of understanding on a merger that would create a European aviation giant to rival Air France-KLM and Lufthansa.
The Week in Europe goes to Prague where Barack Obama's recent visit prompted a huge turnout. Meanwhile, Poland sees a new kind of tourism as Germans go looking for a cheap haircut, and in Ukraine, a cafe remembers Soviet times.
Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, ousted in a no-confidence vote last week, said his government would step down before the end of the June, leaving technocracts to manage the end of the EU presidency.
Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek formally handed in his resignation Thursday following his government's ouster in Tuesday's no-confidence vote. Czech President Vaclav Klaus has called for the quick formation of a new government.
Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said before the European Parliament on Wednesday that the fall of his nation's government will "not impact" its turn in the EU presidency. His government was ousted on Tuesday in a no-confidence vote.
The Czech Chamber of Deputies has gathered to vote on a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, the fifth such vote since he took office in January 2007. The Czech Republic currently holds the EU presidency.
At a special EU summit on Sunday aimed at finding unity in the face of the financial crisis, the bloc's leaders agreed to give struggling Eastern European countries support if needed, although a regional aid plan was ruled out.
The Czech Republic's lower house of parliament approved the EU's reforming Lisbon treaty on Wednesday. The 125 to 61 vote was a key step towards eventual ratification. (Pictured: Czech PM Mirek Topolanek)
Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek has criticised France's handling of the economic crisis for the second time this month, albeit implicitly, by denouncing those "who are adding fuel to the fire in the form of protectionism."
Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said French President Nicolas Sarkozy's "incredible" proposal to "re-localise" French carmakers' foreign units was the best way to jeopardize the ratification of the EU's Lisbon Treaty.
The Czech Republic took over the EU presidency on Jan. 1 amid much speculation over what Europe can expect from eurosceptic Czech President Vaclav Klaus and a nation that still questions whether its interests are best served by EU membership.
