Czech president is close to signing Lisbon Treaty
Rebel finally bows to international pressure after stand-off
Saturday October 24 2009
The Czech President, the last person to hold up ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, edged towards signing yesterday after welcoming a compromise designed to secure his backing.
Vaclav Klaus, who stunned his fellow leaders this month by delaying the treaty with his 11th-hour demands, said that he was satisfied with a deal that had been made after a week of intensive talks.
"President Vaclav Klaus received a proposal from the Swedish EU presidency, in response to his request relating to the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty in the Czech Republic," his office said in a statement.
"This proposal corresponds to the president's expectations and he can continue to work with it."
Although Mr Klaus did not say when he would sign the treaty, his brief statement suggested that EU leaders will be able to satisfy his demands when they meet for a quarterly summit in Brussels next week.
Summit
The delays caused by Mr Klaus to the final ratification mean that the summit will not be able to appoint the two main posts created in the treaty, of president and foreign minister. These may have to take place at a meeting in November.
But the prospect of him signing soon is likely to boost speculation surrounding the race for the new jobs.
David Miliband, the British Foreign Secretary, issued a denial by Twitter yesterday that he was interested in the role of foreign minister, saying that he was already "fully booked" after media reports said that he was being considered as a candidate in several EU capitals.
The withdrawal by Mr Miliband would increase the likelihood that Tony Blair, the former prime minister, will run for the presidency, if the terms of that job, which are yet to be finalised, are attractive.
His possible candidature is being resisted in some capitals and by the Conservative Party.
Mr Klaus had withheld his signature by claiming that the treaty could allow German families who were expelled after the war to bring cases at the European Court of Justice to try to regain their land and property. The Swedish government led private talks to try to meet his concerns in its role as current holder of the rotating EU presidency.
Mr Klaus wants an opt-out for the Czechs from the Charter of Fundamental Rights, a declaration included in the treaty, but has often spoken of his dislike for the agreement because he believes that it pushes Europe towards a superstate.
Stefan Fule, the Czech Europe Minister, told the country's parliament yesterday the deal being offered echoed arrangements made surrounding the Charter of Fundamental Rights that was given to Britain and Poland during negotiations in 2007.
This made clear that it would not create "justiciable rights" in those countries, meaning that domestic law would remain supreme in all human rights matters and the charter could not be used to change it.
Fredrik Reinfeldt, the Swedish Prime Minister, welcomed the statement by Mr Klaus. "The presidency will continue to work with this in view of next week's EU summit in Brussels," he said.
Swedish spokesman said that Mr Klaus was not expected to attend the summit. (©The Times, London)
- DAVID CHARTER
Irish Independent
