ČR approves land swap with Austria

Prague, Nov 30 (CTK) - The Czech government yesterday approved a constitutional bill slightly changing a section of the border with Austria over anti-flood and water management measures, a source informed about the government meeting has told CTK.

Thanks to the legislation, it will be possible to swap some land near the towns of Breclav and Lanzhot, south Moravia, with the neighbouring Austria.

The Czech Republic and Austria agreed on the step on November 3 when the relevant treaty was signed. The government will submit it for ratification to the parliament.

The government signed the treaty on October 26.

Under the treaty, the border will be newly delineated on the Dyje (Thaya) border river. The 24-hectare area is administered by Breclav and Lanzhot.

The acreage to be swapped is the same in Austria and the Czech Republic.

All the land in question is owned by state-run companies such as Povodi Moravy (Moravia River Basin), Pozemkovy fond Ceske republiky (Land Fund of the Czech Republic) and Lesy CR (Czech Forests).

According to the Interior Ministry's report suggesting the swap, the treaty is mainly to respond to the changes arising from the started implementation of water management measures and to find "the best solutions to the problems arising from the administration of the state border."

A constitutional law is needed for a change to the state border.