Half of Czechs admit they have no idea about how European Union bodies function although their country joined the EU on May 1, according to a poll released Thursday.

Only half of Czechs said they had at least a minimal idea of the activities of the main European institutions, the survey by the STEM polling agency showed.

The activities of the European Parliament and the European Court were best understood while people were least aware of the European Commission and the European Court of Audit.

Six out of 10 people in the Czech Republic said they knew at least a little about the functioning of the European Parliament in Strasbourg while 57 percent know how the European Court works.

More than one half of Czechs (55 percent) know what the European Central Bank does and the same proportion understands the role of the European ombudsman.

Forty-six percent said that they knew a little bit about the activity of the EU Council and 45 percent had an idea about the work of the European Investment Bank. Thirty-eight percent of Czechs are aware of the European Commission's function and 18 per cent have some idea of the work of the EU Court of Audit.

People over the age of 60 know the least about the activities of European institutions, while people aged between 30 and 44 are best informed.