25/11/2008

Lisbon Ruling Awaited From Czech Court

The future of the EC's Lisbon Treaty hangs 'on a thread' today as the Czech courts prepare to rule on whether the Treaty is constitutional.

If the court finds the controversial Treaty, which was rejected by the Irish public earlier this year, is not in line with the Czech constitution it could buy the Irish Government some time and leeway to find a solution to the deadlock, or could result in the Treaty being scrapped altogether.

It needs to be ratified by all 27 member states of the European Union in order to be passed into European law, and only Ireland and the Czech Republic have yet to pass it.

There has been no let-up in pressure from the German and French governments who are determined to push the Treaty through.

Following a meeting between French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Paris yesterday, a senior French official told reporters: "We hope that the Lisbon Treaty does not get delayed too much and we are therefore working with the Irish for a timetable [for a new vote] that will be fixed towards the end of 2009."

Brian Cowen is to report to Brussels next month with a solution in tow, and there is mounting speculation that he will announce a second referendum for October 2009. However, a rejection by the Czech legislature could lead to a Lisbon fall-out.

(DW)

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