Czech court paves way for ratification of EU reform treaty

The Czech Constitutional Court has ruled that the EU reform treaty conforms with Czech law, removing a major obstacle to its ratification as the country prepares to takeover the EU presidency in January.

Still, the treaty faces opposition from some government backbenchers supported by President Vaclav Klaus, a eurosceptic who rejects any transfer of national powers to the EU.

The Czech’s are the last EU state to put the treaty to a vote. It has been approved by 25 members, although it is still to be rubber stamped in Germany and Poland.

Ireland is the only country to have rejected it.

Meanwhile, an Irish Parliamentary committee is to debate a report arguing that a second referendum on the EU’s Lisbon treaty is legally possible.

An Irish “yes” will put an end to all the doubt surrounding the fate of the treaty as Czech President Klaus and Polish President Lech Kaczynski, both said thay will wait for an Irish “yes” before putting pen to paper.

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