Czech govt aims to ease land sales to foreigners

...that richer entrepreneurs from western Europe would buy up cheap Czech land.

The government agreed to change the foreign exchange and land transfer laws to allow foreigners to buy land directly if they register in the country as farmers.

Until now, they have had to act through proxies and a registered company or prove they had lived in the country for at least three years and spoke Czech.

The proposal must still be approved by parliament and the president to enter into force.

"Right now we have an even situation. European Union legislation (the acquis communautaire) supercedes the Czech legislation, so this measure is basically (bringing it in line)," Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek told a news conference.

The Czech Republic joined the European Union in 2004, but has delayed implementing the legislation under heavy pressure from farmers, who have been hit hard by competition pressures resulting from accession.

[PRAGUE/Reuters/Finance.cz]