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Czech president's new treaty snag | Czech president's new treaty snag |
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The Eurosceptic Czech President, Vaclav Klaus, wants a new two-sentence footnote to be added to the EU's Lisbon Treaty before signing it, Sweden says. | The Eurosceptic Czech President, Vaclav Klaus, wants a new two-sentence footnote to be added to the EU's Lisbon Treaty before signing it, Sweden says. |
The new condition came up during a phone conversation between Mr Klaus and Swedish PM Fredrik Reinfeldt, current holder of the EU presidency. | The new condition came up during a phone conversation between Mr Klaus and Swedish PM Fredrik Reinfeldt, current holder of the EU presidency. |
Mr Reinfeldt said the requested footnote was linked to the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights. | Mr Reinfeldt said the requested footnote was linked to the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights. |
Poland's president is to sign Lisbon in a ceremony on Saturday, officials say. | Poland's president is to sign Lisbon in a ceremony on Saturday, officials say. |
Poland and the Czech Republic are the only EU states yet to ratify the treaty, which is aimed at streamlining EU institutions, to improve decision-making in the enlarged 27-nation bloc. | Poland and the Czech Republic are the only EU states yet to ratify the treaty, which is aimed at streamlining EU institutions, to improve decision-making in the enlarged 27-nation bloc. |
The treaty has a reference to the Charter of Fundamental Rights, which covers a wide range of EU citizens' rights. The charter will become legally binding once Lisbon enters into force, although the UK has an opt-out from it. | The treaty has a reference to the Charter of Fundamental Rights, which covers a wide range of EU citizens' rights. The charter will become legally binding once Lisbon enters into force, although the UK has an opt-out from it. |
Mr Klaus has refused to sign the treaty until the Czech Constitutional Court rules on a new legal complaint against it, lodged by senators allied to him. | Mr Klaus has refused to sign the treaty until the Czech Constitutional Court rules on a new legal complaint against it, lodged by senators allied to him. |
According to Mr Reinfeldt, Mr Klaus also wants the new footnote adopted by the European Council, the grouping of EU heads of state and prime ministers. | According to Mr Reinfeldt, Mr Klaus also wants the new footnote adopted by the European Council, the grouping of EU heads of state and prime ministers. |
'Wrong message' | 'Wrong message' |
"I told him this is the wrong message at the wrong time for the EU. I told him clearly it is his ink on the paper that counts and I don't want this to delay the treaty going through as soon as possible," said Mr Reinfeldt, quoted by Reuters news agency. | "I told him this is the wrong message at the wrong time for the EU. I told him clearly it is his ink on the paper that counts and I don't want this to delay the treaty going through as soon as possible," said Mr Reinfeldt, quoted by Reuters news agency. |
The Czech president told him he would sign Lisbon if he got the extra footnote and if the Czech Constitutional Court rejected the senators' legal challenge, Mr Reinfeldt said. | The Czech president told him he would sign Lisbon if he got the extra footnote and if the Czech Constitutional Court rejected the senators' legal challenge, Mr Reinfeldt said. |
"We need clarification on exactly what he [President Klaus] is asking for," he added. | "We need clarification on exactly what he [President Klaus] is asking for," he added. |
Mr Klaus's demand came only a day after the Czech Prime Minister, Jan Fischer, said he was confident ratification would be complete by the end of the year. | Mr Klaus's demand came only a day after the Czech Prime Minister, Jan Fischer, said he was confident ratification would be complete by the end of the year. |
The BBC's Dominic Hughes in Brussels says EU leaders will see the latest objection as another delaying tactic. | The BBC's Dominic Hughes in Brussels says EU leaders will see the latest objection as another delaying tactic. |
They will be unlikely to go along with such a request, which runs the risk of opening up the whole ratification process once again - something they are desperate to avoid, our correspondent says. | They will be unlikely to go along with such a request, which runs the risk of opening up the whole ratification process once again - something they are desperate to avoid, our correspondent says. |
Mr Reinfeldt appeared baffled and a little angry about the latest development, he adds. | |
In Poland, President Lech Kaczynski's chief of staff Wladyslaw Stasiak said "the president will sign the treaty on Saturday at noon (1000 GMT)". | |
Earlier, there had been confusion about the president's intentions, with another aide saying the signing would be on Sunday. | |
The treaty cleared a major hurdle on 2 October when voters in the Republic of Ireland backed it overwhelmingly, in a second referendum. Lisbon is aimed at streamlining EU institutions. | |
President Kaczynski, a Eurosceptic, had said he would wait for the Irish voters' verdict before signing the treaty. | |
EU leaders are anxious to get the treaty fully ratified this year - well before UK elections next spring, which could see a triumph for Conservative leader David Cameron. Many in his party oppose Lisbon and are demanding a referendum on it. | |
EU governments see the treaty as fundamental to the 27-nation bloc's future success. Without it, they argue, the EU's decision-making processes will remain slow and cumbersome, because they date back to when the EU consisted of only 15 nations. | |
Opponents see Lisbon as part of a federalist agenda that threatens national sovereignty. |