Thread: Czech President dismisses Brussels warning overLisbon treaty

From The Times October 14, 2009

Czech President Vaclav Klaus dismisses Brussels warning over Lisbon treaty

David Charter in Prague and Rory Watson in Brussels
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A stern warning yesterday from Brussels that the Czechs could lose their place at Europe’s top table elicited only a shrug in Prague castle. Behind its ramparts, President Klaus maintained an enigmatic silence, but his footmen let it be known that he was in no mood to put pen to paper.

The rest of the EU has already ratified the Lisbon treaty, Tony Blair is waiting for the nod allowing him to move into a sumptuous residence in Brussels, but President Klaus is still playing poker with Europe.

The 66-year-old Czech leader, the last hurdle for a treaty that has taken eight years to stumble to the finishing tape, insists that the EU must first grant the Czech Republic an eleventh-hour opt-out. Then he might think about signing.

“President Klaus has not received any guarantees that ratification of the Lisbon treaty will go on in the way he wants,â€

The EU turns its hideous strength against Václav Klaus

By Daniel Hannan Politics Last updated: October 12th, 2009

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Can this really be true? The French and German governments attempting to oust the head of state of a neighbouring democracy? Czech politicians being told to bring impeachment proceedings against their President – not on grounds of corruption or abuse of office, but because he is sticking to a position that he had very publicly adopted prior to becoming President?

Klaus himself has written of the intolerant, authoritarian nature of the doctrine he calls “Europeismâ€

Lisbon Treaty: Czechs could lose European Commissioner if president fails to sign

Vaclav Klaus, the Czech President, has been warned his country could lose its seat on the European Commission unless he stops placing "artificial obstacles" in the way of the EU Lisbon Treaty.

By Bruno Waterfield in Brussels
Published: 5:44PM BST 13 Oct 2009


Vaclav Klaus, the Czech President, has been warned his country could lose its seat on the European Commission unless he stops placing 'artificial obstacles' in the way of the EU Lisbon Treaty Photo: AFP/GETTY

The threat followed emergency talks between Jan Fischer, the caretaker Czech prime minister, and the European Commission.

Jose Manuel Barroso, the Commission President, told the Czechs that the European Union's patience was running out with President Klaus's continued refusal to sign the treaty.

"We expect the Czech Republic to honour the commitment it has taken. It is in the interests of nobody, least of all the interests of the Czech Republic, to delay matters further," he said.

"We certainly hope that no artificial obstacles are raised at this time."

The Czech president is refusing to add his signature to the Lisbon Treaty, meaning that its formal ratification in all 27 of the EU's member states is blocked.

Last week, Mr Klaus shocked other EU governments by issuing an 11th hour demand for an "opt-out" to prevent ethnic Germans forced out of the Czech Sudeten region after the Second World War from claiming back their property.

The move, which comes before a legal challenge is heard in the Czech constitutional court in Prague later this month, means that a summit of EU leaders will have to sort out the deadlock within a fortnight.

Mr Barroso has ruled out any attempts by Mr Klaus to reopen the Lisbon Treaty to insert a new Czech clause, a decision that will require ratification to be carried out all over again in all EU countries.

"That is absurd, it would be surreal," he said.

Officials and diplomats are furious because the Oct 29 summit was scheduled to name a new EU President and foreign minister, posts created by the Lisbon Treaty.

The appointments have now been delayed by the Czechs, including the selection of new commissioners after the current EU executive's term of office ends on Oct 31.

Under the EU's current Nice Treaty, which will remain in force unless Mr Klaus backs down, the number of commissioners is set to be cut for the first time below the number of member states.

"If there is no Lisbon Treaty, there is no guarantee for the Czech Republic to have a commissioner," Mr Barroso warned.

Boyko Borisov, the Bulgarian prime minister, emerged after talks in Paris with President Nicolas Sarkozy to warn that further Czech resistance would not be tolerated.

"It must not be allowed, it must not be tolerated. President Sarkozy is of the same opinion," he said.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... -sign.html