This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/8125742.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
German court to rule on EU treaty Lisbon passes German court test
(about 3 hours later)
Germany's Constitutional Court is due to rule on whether the Lisbon Treaty to reform the European Union is compatible with German law. Germany's Constitutional Court has ruled that the EU's Lisbon Treaty is compatible with German law - but has suspended ratification of it.
A number of German MPs have asked the court to decide against the treaty, dismissing it as undemocratic. The court said extra national legislation was needed to ensure that the German parliament participated fully in adopting EU laws.
If the judges agree, it would be a major embarrassment for the government - and a severe blow to the treaty. The controversial treaty is aimed at streamlining EU institutions to improve their efficiency.
A number of German MPs had asked the court to decide against the treaty.
Lisbon faces another big test later this year in the Republic of Ireland, where it will be put to a second referendum. Irish voters rejected the treaty in a referendum a year ago.
EU leaders are keen to wrap up Lisbon Treaty ratification this year
The German parliament has already ratified the treaty, but President Horst Koehler has not signed it yet.The German parliament has already ratified the treaty, but President Horst Koehler has not signed it yet.
He is waiting to hear what the eight judges of the Constitutional Court think.
Opponents of the treaty claim it is undemocratic, that it undermines Germany's parliament and hands over too much power to Brussels.Opponents of the treaty claim it is undemocratic, that it undermines Germany's parliament and hands over too much power to Brussels.
A number of German lawmakers - mostly from the left-wing Linke party - have gone to court to try to stop the treaty. A number of German lawmakers - mostly from the left-wing Linke party - went to court to try to stop the treaty. There was also an MP from a party allied to Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives.
There is also an MP from a party allied to Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives.
It is considered unlikely that the court would declare the treaty unconstitutional.
But the judges may qualify their support for the treaty and stress the need for parliament to maintain a key role in matters of national sovereignty.