This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7465448.stm
The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Czech threat looms for EU treaty | Czech threat looms for EU treaty |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| EU leaders are set to admit that the Czech Republic may not be able to ratify the Lisbon Treaty, which has already been rejected by the Irish. | EU leaders are set to admit that the Czech Republic may not be able to ratify the Lisbon Treaty, which has already been rejected by the Irish. |
| The declaration, to be agreed at an EU summit in Brussels, will note that the Czechs cannot complete ratification for the moment, officials said. | The declaration, to be agreed at an EU summit in Brussels, will note that the Czechs cannot complete ratification for the moment, officials said. |
| But French President Nicolas Sarkozy said leaders wanted Lisbon to survive. | |
| The summit has been overshadowed by the Irish result, despite efforts to concentrate on food and fuel prices. | The summit has been overshadowed by the Irish result, despite efforts to concentrate on food and fuel prices. |
| "The idea is for the European Council to note that the Czech Republic cannot complete the ratification process until its constitutional court delivers its opinion," Reuters quoted an EU official as saying. | "The idea is for the European Council to note that the Czech Republic cannot complete the ratification process until its constitutional court delivers its opinion," Reuters quoted an EU official as saying. |
| The Czech parliament's ratification has been suspended, after the Senate demanded that the constitutional court decide whether the treaty conformed with the constitution. | The Czech parliament's ratification has been suspended, after the Senate demanded that the constitutional court decide whether the treaty conformed with the constitution. |
| The Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said at the summit that he was not going to try to halt the ratification process in his country. | The Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said at the summit that he was not going to try to halt the ratification process in his country. |
| But he added: "I am not going to force MPs to back Lisbon and I wouldn't bet 100 crowns (£3, $6) on a Czech Yes." | But he added: "I am not going to force MPs to back Lisbon and I wouldn't bet 100 crowns (£3, $6) on a Czech Yes." |
| The Czech President, Vaclav Klaus, said after the Irish vote that it had killed off the treaty. | The Czech President, Vaclav Klaus, said after the Irish vote that it had killed off the treaty. |
| 'Not just for fun' | 'Not just for fun' |
| The issue has obstructed attempts to get a common position in Brussels - that ratification should continue, while the Irish government takes time to consider its next step. | The issue has obstructed attempts to get a common position in Brussels - that ratification should continue, while the Irish government takes time to consider its next step. |
| But President Sarkozy said EU leaders had decided that: "The treaty ratification process should continue in all member states, that's the position now of the council." | |
| LISBON TREATY PROGRESS Approved by parliament: Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, UKDefeated by referendum: Irish RepublicChallenges: Legal objections in Czech RepublicNo firm date: Belgium, Cyprus, Netherlands (held up by referendum proposal), Italy (new government), Spain (new government), Sweden Mardell blog: Irish have no answersEU crisis: The same, but different EU lifts Cuba sanctions | LISBON TREATY PROGRESS Approved by parliament: Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, UKDefeated by referendum: Irish RepublicChallenges: Legal objections in Czech RepublicNo firm date: Belgium, Cyprus, Netherlands (held up by referendum proposal), Italy (new government), Spain (new government), Sweden Mardell blog: Irish have no answersEU crisis: The same, but different EU lifts Cuba sanctions |
| "Ireland is a problem, but if we have a second or third problem then it's really going to get difficult," he added. | |
| The treaty must be ratified by all 27 member states to take effect. Nineteen have approved it so far, the latest of which was the UK, where it passed through parliament on Wednesday. | The treaty must be ratified by all 27 member states to take effect. Nineteen have approved it so far, the latest of which was the UK, where it passed through parliament on Wednesday. |
| On Thursday night European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso urged respect for the Irish No vote but said he was confident all the countries would complete the ratification process. | On Thursday night European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso urged respect for the Irish No vote but said he was confident all the countries would complete the ratification process. |
| He ruled out renegotiating the reform treaty. | He ruled out renegotiating the reform treaty. |
| "When a treaty is signed by 27 governments it's not just for fun," he said. "It's inconceivable that a government signs a treaty without the intention of ratifying it. It's a principle of international law." | "When a treaty is signed by 27 governments it's not just for fun," he said. "It's inconceivable that a government signs a treaty without the intention of ratifying it. It's a principle of international law." |
| Mr Sarkozy said the European Union would not be able to expand further without ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, in what correspondents said appeared to be an attempt to lean on the Czechs. | |
| On Thursday, the leaders agreed to scrap diplomatic sanctions against Cuba imposed in 2003. | On Thursday, the leaders agreed to scrap diplomatic sanctions against Cuba imposed in 2003. |
Mr Barroso has also been pressing for the summit to focus on other issues such as fuel and food prices. After the first day of the summit, he announced:
| Mr Barroso has also been pressing for the summit to focus on other issues such as fuel and food prices. After the first day of the summit, he announced:
|