mrmoney
12-10-2009, 06:34 PM
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article6871365.ece
Lisbon Treaty delayed again as Klaus wins Czech tussle
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00625/Klaus_625762a.jpg
The crisis over the final signature on the Lisbon Treaty deepened today when the Czech Government backed away from a confrontation with the country's President, Vaclav Klaus. and instead pledged to negotiate for an 11th hour amendment on his behalf.
After an emergency Cabinet meting this morning, Jan Fischer, the Czech Prime Minister, said that he would put President Klaus's call for a human rights opt-out to the next European summit on October 29.
The climbdown represented a victory for Mr Klaus, the last man holding out on signing the treaty after its ratification in the 26 other EU states, and shows clearly that the Czech Government has no stomach for a fight with the eurosceptic economist.
It also leaves open the possibility that the Czech ratification could drag on into next year, allowing time for David Cameron to win a general election in the UK and call a referendum on the document.
The decision will throw the problem back at EU leaders at a meeting they had hoped would finally celebrate the completion of the treaty.
"I would not like to talk about constitutional crisis," Mr Fischer told The Times today.
"The Government is in a position to negotiate the extra conditions revealed by our Head of State. We are ready to go to the European Council to put it on the table."
Hinting at a breakdown in relations between the President and the Prime Minister, he added: "The Government would like to have clear and sound guarantees from the side of the Head of State that this is actually the last step from his side and no other additional conditions will be added."
Mr Fischer said that he hoped that the treaty could still be concluded by the end of the year but the lack of agreement from Mr Klaus will continue to infuriate those EU members, particularly France and Germany, pushing hard to wrap up the whole Lisbon Treaty saga.
President Klaus wants an opt-out from the charter of fundamental rights, part of the treaty which he claims could open up a hornet's nest of property claims at the European Court of Justice from German families expelled from Czech territory after the Second World War.
Lisbon Treaty delayed again as Klaus wins Czech tussle
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00625/Klaus_625762a.jpg
The crisis over the final signature on the Lisbon Treaty deepened today when the Czech Government backed away from a confrontation with the country's President, Vaclav Klaus. and instead pledged to negotiate for an 11th hour amendment on his behalf.
After an emergency Cabinet meting this morning, Jan Fischer, the Czech Prime Minister, said that he would put President Klaus's call for a human rights opt-out to the next European summit on October 29.
The climbdown represented a victory for Mr Klaus, the last man holding out on signing the treaty after its ratification in the 26 other EU states, and shows clearly that the Czech Government has no stomach for a fight with the eurosceptic economist.
It also leaves open the possibility that the Czech ratification could drag on into next year, allowing time for David Cameron to win a general election in the UK and call a referendum on the document.
The decision will throw the problem back at EU leaders at a meeting they had hoped would finally celebrate the completion of the treaty.
"I would not like to talk about constitutional crisis," Mr Fischer told The Times today.
"The Government is in a position to negotiate the extra conditions revealed by our Head of State. We are ready to go to the European Council to put it on the table."
Hinting at a breakdown in relations between the President and the Prime Minister, he added: "The Government would like to have clear and sound guarantees from the side of the Head of State that this is actually the last step from his side and no other additional conditions will be added."
Mr Fischer said that he hoped that the treaty could still be concluded by the end of the year but the lack of agreement from Mr Klaus will continue to infuriate those EU members, particularly France and Germany, pushing hard to wrap up the whole Lisbon Treaty saga.
President Klaus wants an opt-out from the charter of fundamental rights, part of the treaty which he claims could open up a hornet's nest of property claims at the European Court of Justice from German families expelled from Czech territory after the Second World War.