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| Czech court clears Lisbon Treaty | Czech court clears Lisbon Treaty |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The Czech constitutional court has ruled that the Lisbon Treaty is in line with the constitution, clearing the way for President Vaclav Klaus to sign it. | The Czech constitutional court has ruled that the Lisbon Treaty is in line with the constitution, clearing the way for President Vaclav Klaus to sign it. |
| The Czech Republic is the only EU member yet to ratify the treaty, and the decision removes one of the last hurdles for its passage. | The Czech Republic is the only EU member yet to ratify the treaty, and the decision removes one of the last hurdles for its passage. |
| The Eurosceptic Mr Klaus, who was awaiting the court's decision, has said he will not further oppose the treaty. | The Eurosceptic Mr Klaus, who was awaiting the court's decision, has said he will not further oppose the treaty. |
| The treaty was drawn up to streamline decision-making in the 27-member body. | The treaty was drawn up to streamline decision-making in the 27-member body. |
| If Mr Klaus signs, that would pave the way for the treaty to come into effect throughout the EU on 1 December. | If Mr Klaus signs, that would pave the way for the treaty to come into effect throughout the EU on 1 December. |
| The Czech president has been seen as the last major obstacle to the passage of the treaty, but he has recently appeared satisfied with a promised opt-out from the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights. | The Czech president has been seen as the last major obstacle to the passage of the treaty, but he has recently appeared satisfied with a promised opt-out from the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights. |
| Mr Klaus has said the opt-out was essential to avoid property claims from ethnic Germans, 2.5 million of whom were expelled from Czechoslovakia after World War II. | Mr Klaus has said the opt-out was essential to avoid property claims from ethnic Germans, 2.5 million of whom were expelled from Czechoslovakia after World War II. |
| Mr Klaus had also complained that the treaty would cede too many national powers to Brussels. | Mr Klaus had also complained that the treaty would cede too many national powers to Brussels. |
| The Czech constitutional court had been considering a case brought by 17 Eurosceptic senators who said the treaty would create a super-state, and as such would infringe Czech sovereignty. | The Czech constitutional court had been considering a case brought by 17 Eurosceptic senators who said the treaty would create a super-state, and as such would infringe Czech sovereignty. |
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