Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on March 16

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[RTRS-LEN-CZ-ECI]

SLOVAK MINISTER

Slovak Foreign Minister Jan Kubis travels to Prague to meet his Czech counterpart Karel Schwarzenberg. News conference at 1:20 p.m. (1220 GMT).

Kubis later meets Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, with a news briefing scheduled for 5:30 p.m. (1430 GMT).

DEPUTY PM SPEAKS

Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Alexandr Vondra delivers a speech at 10 a.m. (0900 GMT) at conference on "European Integration at the Crossroads."

ANALYSIS: EU UNSURE WHAT TO BE

Even though it turns 50 this month, the European Union still isn't sure what it wants to be when it grows up.

[nL14560795] [RTRS-LEN-CZ-EU]

CEZ SALE IN CABINET

The Czech Finance Ministry will recommend, probably at Monday's Cabinet meeting, that the government sells a 7 percent stake in power utility CEZ on the stock exchange.

[nL15728109] [nL14259204] [RTRS-LEN-CZ-CEZPsp.PR]

CROWN HITS TWO-MONTH HIGHS

The Czech crown firmed to near two-month highs versus the euro on Thursday on buying led by U.S. investment banks and growing market confidence that the economy was sustaining a robust pace of expansion.

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- For previous updates on crown moves click on [CZK/]

HIGHER VAT RATE

The Finance Ministry is expected to recommend that the government increase the preferential value-added tax rate to 9 percent from current 5 percent. The higher base rate is to remain at 19 percent, writes the daily Pravo.

The government is planning to present a package of spending cuts and tax changes aimed at cutting a bloated fiscal deficit in early April.

[RTRS-LEN-CZ-GVD]

EARNINGS POLL: PEGAS NET PROFIT SEEN LOWER

Net profit at artificial fabrics maker Pegas Nonwovens fell 26 percent last year due to rising interest costs and falling margins, a Reuters survey of analysts showed.

[nL15256074] [RTRS-LEN-CZ-PGSNsp.PR]

Overview of past economic data and market forecasts For Instant Views of key economic data click on [CZ/INSTANT] For summary of economic data and forecasts For diary of forthcoming Czech events [CZ/DIARY] For calendar of east European economic indicators [CONV/DIARY] TOP NEWS -- Emerging markets [TOP/EMRG] TOP NEWS -- Convergence watch [TOP/EAST]

For an economic indicator diary for the euro zone, the United States and other Group of Seven countries see

For real-time stock market index quotes click in brackets: Warsaw WIG20 Budapest BUX Prague PX

News editor of the day: Alan Crosby on +420 224 190 477; fax: +420 224 229 935

E-mail: prague.newsroom@reuters.com

Reuters Messaging: alan.crosby.reuters.com@reuters.net

($1=21.41 Czech Crown)