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European Union

Czech Senate endorses Lisbon Treaty

Article published on the 2009-05-06 Latest update 2009-05-07 10:45 TU

The Czech Senate on the day of the Lisbon Treaty vote, Prague, 6 May 2009(Photo: Reuters)

The Czech Senate on the day of the Lisbon Treaty vote, Prague, 6 May 2009
(Photo: Reuters)

The treaty was given the green light by substantially more than the required three-fifths majority in the upper house of the Czech parliament. But eurosceptic President Vaclav Klaus has hinted he won't allow his country's ratification, unless Ireland does so first.

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Czech senators on Wednesday voted 54-20 to endorse the Lisbon Treaty.

Afterwards, Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexandr Vondra said "this is an important day for the Czech Republic, and for its position and influence in the EU and the world."

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso released a statment saying he was "very happy" at the approval.

The lower house, the Chamber of Deputies, already endorsed the treaty in mid-February. This means that for the Czech Republic to ratify it, all that is left is Klaus' signature.

The Czech Republic currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU, and was embarassed when its euro-skeptic Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek tendered his resignation in March. Ratifying the Lisbon Treaty, it is thought, will go a long way to restoring their relations with the rest of the bloc.

All EU member countries must ratify the treaty for it to take effect. All have already, except the Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, and Ireland. Germany is still examining the treaty's compatibility with the German constitution. Polish President Lech Kaczynski has said he will wait for Ireland's decision.

That decision may still be forthcoming. Irish citizens voted down their country's ratification of the treaty in a national referendum in June. At that time, Klaus said that the "treaty project ended today with the decision of the Irish voters and its ratification cannot be continued”.

Since then, the the Irish government has announced plans to hold a second referendum, before November.

This fall, Klaus was asked by the Irish Times newspaper if he would give his signature, should both houses of parliament approve the treaty. He replied,"only afterwards it would be the [president's] turn. I have no reason to be another European to urge Ireland to do something. Simply, no change can occur without Ireland changing its position".

The treaty would guarantee new rights for EU citizens; introduce common energy, trade, and security policies; create an elected European Council President and more powerful foreign policy chief; attempt to streamline the legislative process; and provide a process for countries to leave the union.