Tirade Tsjechische president tegen EU (en)

Czech President Vaclav Klaus, an avowed eurosceptic, has launched a scathing attack on the European Union just days before his country joins the club.

Writing in today's Handelsblatt, Mr Klaus says, "The EU does not consist of freedom and openness but rather of bureaucracy, regulation and harmonisation".

His comments follow others he made last week when he claimed that his country would "cease to exist" as an independent entity once it joined the EU.

Mr Klaus's outspoken comments are likely to have an influence on the celebrations for enlargement day which are set to be more downbeat.

The Chicago Tribune quotes Jana Adamacova, who directed the Czech government's pro-EU referendum campaign last year as saying, "It won't be too magnificent. People would criticize and say we are wasting money".