The CNB Governor, Zdenek Tůma, was positive about the new amendment of the Law on the CNB. The amendment, as the Cabinet approved it, is compatible with the EU legislation and should not contain the highly criticized separation of the CNB budget into two: "policy oriented" and "operational" that would be scrutinized by the parliament. Instead, the Supreme Audit Office could control the central bank expenses, the Governor hopes. It remains to be seen what the CNB critics at the parliament will say… The Governor Tůma also mentioned that the CR could enter the EMU only 2-3 years after it joins the EU, an ambitious target.
(Ondřej Schneider)