Klaus Has Signed the Treaty of Lisbon!

Czech President Vaclav Klaus has signed the ratification documents for the Treaty of Lisbon after the decision of the Czech Constitutional Court.

The Treaty of Lisbon can enter into force on December, 1st or January, 1st.

Deal on Czech Demands for Opt-Out

The European Council has accepted the demands of Czech President Vaclav Klaus to include an opt-out from the application of the Charter of fundamental rights of the European Union. The opt-out will be included at a later stage in the Treaty of Lisbon.

 

Now we are waiting for the decision of the Czech Constitutional Court that may come on November, 3rd.

 

Klaus May Accept Swedish Proposal on Lisbon Treaty

Whatever the Swedish government has proposed on Mr. Klaus’ demands for an opt-out on human rights, he appears to have accepted it.

Now it would be nice to see the proposal itself.

Klaus Will Sign?

Die Welt says that Czech President Vaclav Klaus has abandoned his fight against the Treaty of Lisbon. The newspaper cites an interview in Lidove Noviny, but fails to specify any timing.

It is very difficult to assess this information.

Klaus Demands New Declaration in Treaty of Lisbon

The Czech president Vaclav Klaus has demanded an opt-out for the Czech Republic from the Charter of fundamental rights of the European Union, similar to that obtained earlier by Britain and Poland, in order to sign the Treaty of Lisbon.

This would require either a re-ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon, or a declaration by the European Council.

Pressure on Klaus to Sign Ratification Papers

There is mounting pressure on the Czech President Vaclav Klaus to sign ratification papers for the Treaty of Lisbon. Klaus has argued that he cannot sign now due to the new pending appeal at the Czech Constitutional Court.

Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita says (via Euractiv) that the Czech Republic could receive an influential post in the new European Commission in exchange for President Klaus’s signature. Poland itself is expected to finalize ratification shortly.

In any case it seems unlikely that the ratification process will end before November, 1st.