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Poland could face EU treaty vote | Poland could face EU treaty vote |
(about 10 hours later) | |
Polish PM Donald Tusk has said a referendum may be necessary on the Lisbon Treaty because of a dispute with the opposition and President Kaczynski. | Polish PM Donald Tusk has said a referendum may be necessary on the Lisbon Treaty because of a dispute with the opposition and President Kaczynski. |
The president and his twin brother, Jaroslaw, helped negotiate the accord but are now threatening to torpedo it, saying it could harm Polish interests. | The president and his twin brother, Jaroslaw, helped negotiate the accord but are now threatening to torpedo it, saying it could harm Polish interests. |
Ireland is the only member state due to hold a public vote on the treaty, which has to be ratified by all 27 countries. | Ireland is the only member state due to hold a public vote on the treaty, which has to be ratified by all 27 countries. |
Signed last year, it is aimed at making EU institutions more efficient. | Signed last year, it is aimed at making EU institutions more efficient. |
To me, the EU is vital for the entire continent and I hope that Poland definitely is not going to be an obstacle Valdas AdamkusLithuanian President But opponents are concerned it gives the European Union more power, by creating a president of the European Council and extending the use of majority voting. | To me, the EU is vital for the entire continent and I hope that Poland definitely is not going to be an obstacle Valdas AdamkusLithuanian President But opponents are concerned it gives the European Union more power, by creating a president of the European Council and extending the use of majority voting. |
In a televised address on Monday night, President Kaczynski said: "Not everything in the EU is good for Poland." | In a televised address on Monday night, President Kaczynski said: "Not everything in the EU is good for Poland." |
On Tuesday, he submitted to parliament his own ratification bill which he said would better protect Poland's national interests. | On Tuesday, he submitted to parliament his own ratification bill which he said would better protect Poland's national interests. |
Rights charter | Rights charter |
The treaty would need a two-thirds majority to go through both houses of parliament, but ex-Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski's Law and Justice party has said the existing ratification bill does not guarantee Poland's exemption from the treaty's Charter of Fundamental rights. | The treaty would need a two-thirds majority to go through both houses of parliament, but ex-Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski's Law and Justice party has said the existing ratification bill does not guarantee Poland's exemption from the treaty's Charter of Fundamental rights. |
It fears the charter could allow homosexual marriage in Poland and pave the way for Germans to sue Poles for property lost after World War II. | It fears the charter could allow homosexual marriage in Poland and pave the way for Germans to sue Poles for property lost after World War II. |
The UK has secured a guarantee that the charter cannot be used by a European court to change British law. | |
President Lech Kaczynski has said his own ratification proposal would enable Warsaw to invoke the so-called "British protocol". | |
Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus appealed to the Polish president not to block the treaty. | Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus appealed to the Polish president not to block the treaty. |
"To me, the EU is vital for the entire continent and I hope that Poland definitely is not going to be an obstacle," he said. | "To me, the EU is vital for the entire continent and I hope that Poland definitely is not going to be an obstacle," he said. |
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