After Ireland’s positive referendum and Polands ratification of the Lisbon Treaty on 10 October, the Czech Republic is the only member state who has yet to sign the Treaty. Political pressure now lies on Czech Republic President Václav Klaus to ratify the Treaty as soon as the Czech Constitutional Court issues its judgement on the conformity of the Lisbon Treaty with the Czech Constitution. European Commission President Barroso and the Swedish Presidency apply pressure on Klaus to stick to his commitments towards the Czech Parliament and Senate which both adopted the Treaty as well as to the 26 other Member States whose national parliaments have ratified. Nevertheless, the main reference person for the EU remains Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer who now will have to exert pressure on his President in Prague, who has asked for additional footnotes to be applied to the Charter of Fundamental Rights attached to the Lisbon Treaty. Since the Czech Constitutional Court judgement is expected to be issued before the European Council on 29 and 30 October, all spotlights will be on the summit to find legal solutions. But here again, the Czech respresentative in Brussels will be Fischer.

Image : European Commission