CZECH REP.

Although the Czech Republic's electoral process is largely fair, the country's legal framework has proven unable to protect against infringements of other democratic rights.

Discrimination, particularly against the country's Roma minority, is a persistent problem.

Corruption in the business community is widespread.

Czech labor policies are modeled on Western Europe's, but resource constraints have muted their effect.

Unemployment benefits are minimal, though unemployment has been kept in check.

The country's location and low labor costs have helped attract foreign capital, but a shortage of skilled labor has limited investment.

Taxes are low, with corporate taxes recently reduced to match regional rivals. This has led to fiscal deficits.

The Czech Republic has retained fairly low levels of inequality and poverty, although former industrial regions are somewhat worse off.

The health care system offers free treatment to all citizens, paid by state and private insurance plans. Rising costs have prompted reforms.

Family support policies were expanded in 2005, but are viewed skeptically by the new center-right government. Pension levels have fallen, but effectively prevent poverty.

Security policy has been based on the assumption of little external threat, with a reliance on EU and NATO integration.

Crime rates are relatively high, and police underfunded and ill-equipped.

Migrant communities are small. The government has recently sought to address labor shortages by encouraging immigration.

Although environmental issues benefited during the process of EU accession, Czech policymakers tend to neglect environmental concerns.

Research funding has fluctuated, often taking a back seat to present-day concerns. Government spending is bolstered by auto manufacturers' investments.

A comprehensive education reform went into effect in 2005.

Although the government has made efforts to set long-term objectives, these plans are rarely reflected in ministry policy-making, or communicated coherently.

RIAs have been officially required since 2005, but implementation has been slow. Scientific advice is rarely sought.

The government consults with trade unions, businesses, representative from depressed regions and others, but the impact of these conversations varies.

The government in power through August 2006 won reasonable legislative success. However, gaps between stated goals and actual results were large.

About 90 percent of government-sponsored bills were adopted in parliament.

The second chamber and the head of state are significant veto players. The Constitutional Court did not declare any bill unconstitutional in the period under review.

EU membership has led to reform of government structures and administration, but has sparked some political backlash.

With respect to international initiatives, the Czech Republic is a follower rather than an initiator.

Following the country’s European Union accession, the government launched programs aimed at improving administrative practices through the use of modern management methods.

However, preliminary steps have proved much easier than actual implementation.

Most Czech citizens have a limited understanding of government policy, focusing rather on political personalities.

The parliament has significant executive oversight capabilities.

Parties produce fairly coherent electoral platforms, while interest associations have gained in influence since EU accession.