Prague - Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said Monday he
is dedicated to ratifying European Union's reform treaty before his
country takes over the EU presidency on January 1.
Topolanek's assurance came during a visit to Prague by
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who urged the Czech Republic to pass
the stalled Lisbon Treaty so the EU can move ahead on efforts to
bring it into force.
Czech ratification is not 'artificially obstructed' and 'could be
completed by year's end,' before the Czech Republic takes over the
EU presidency for six months, Topolanek said.
Merkel said she hoped the Czech Republic's ratification would be
finished when country's presidency begins, so the EU could continue
working with Ireland on 'completing ratification' there.
The Czech Constitutional Court is reviewing the treaty at the
request of eurosceptic members of Topolanek's Civic Democratic Party.
It's unclear when it will rule whether the pace is in line with the
country's constitution.
Topolanek, who signed the treaty along with other EU leaders last
December, said parliament will take up the treaty as soon as the high
court clears it.
The Czech premier said it would be problematic for the presiding
country to negotiate on future Irish ratification steps, while
neither having ratified the pact.
Irish voters rejected the accord, aimed at streamlining
decision-making in the 27-member bloc, in a June referendum.
Topolanek, whose governing party has a significant eurosceptic
streak, called the treaty 'a very tough compromise' and the price
for belonging to 'a certain orbit of civilization.'
'That is why I support it despite all the problems I have with
it,' he said.
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