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
12 Comments
Recommend 4

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€