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EU ups pressure on treaty approval

France pushes Lisbon ratification while Poland poses setback

By Kimberly Hiss
Staff Writer, The Prague Post
July 2nd, 2008 issue

As France assumed the European Union presidency July 1, senior French officials increased pressure on the Czech Republic to proceed with its ratification of the Lisbon Treaty.
French Foreign Affairs Minister Bernard Kouchner criticized Prague’s negative handling of the reform treaty, a track record made more significant by the fact that the Czech Republic will be taking over the rotating EU presidency Jan. 1.
In another blow to the struggling treaty, Polish President Lech Kaczyński announced the same day that he will not sign the pact at present. Kaczyński — a longtime opponent of the treaty as is his Czech counterpart President Václav Klaus — has withheld his approval despite the Polish government’s ratification of the document in April.
“It’s like a confirmation of our president’s position,” said political analyst Zdeněk Zbořil of Kaczyński’s announcement, adding that, however, he did not think it would influence the Czech Parliament. “In both countries, it’s about tension between the president and prime minister. Although in Poland it’s a little greater than it is here.”
Of the French statements, Zbořil said, “I do not think they will have much effect,” and added that pressure to ratify the treaty from other leaders, such as German Chancellor Angela Merkel, is more likely to carry influence with Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek.
The Czech Republic’s own ratification process is currently on hold while the Constitutional Court assesses the document’s compatibility with the Czech Constitution. The court began its review in May at the request of the senior ruling Civic Democratic Party (ODS), a predominantly Euroskeptic group.
While awaiting that decision, the Cabinet announced its view June 28 that the treaty was consistent with the Czech Constitution.
“The government says in its position that it had agreed on the Lisbon Treaty in good will, and on the basis of legal expert reports that the Lisbon Treaty complies with the Czech Republic’s constitutional order,” Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Alexandr Vondra told the Czech News Agency.
Despite the Cabinet’s opinion, the ratification process is still pending the Constitutional Court’s ruling, which is expected to be months away.

Kimberly Hiss can be reached at news@praguepost.com


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