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| Poland in new blow to EU treaty | Poland in new blow to EU treaty |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Poland's President Lech Kaczynski says he will not sign the EU's reform treaty at present, following its defeat in an Irish referendum last month. | Poland's President Lech Kaczynski says he will not sign the EU's reform treaty at present, following its defeat in an Irish referendum last month. |
| He said it would be "pointless" to sign the Lisbon Treaty, even though Poland's parliament has ratified it. All 27 EU members must ratify the document. | He said it would be "pointless" to sign the Lisbon Treaty, even though Poland's parliament has ratified it. All 27 EU members must ratify the document. |
| Mr Kaczynski was speaking as France took over the EU's rotating presidency. | Mr Kaczynski was speaking as France took over the EU's rotating presidency. |
| French President Nicolas Sarkozy said "something isn't right" with the EU and warned citizens may be losing faith. | French President Nicolas Sarkozy said "something isn't right" with the EU and warned citizens may be losing faith. |
| The Lisbon Treaty is intended to streamline EU decision-making following enlargement of the bloc, creating a new EU president and foreign affairs chief. | The Lisbon Treaty is intended to streamline EU decision-making following enlargement of the bloc, creating a new EU president and foreign affairs chief. |
| 'Complicated' | 'Complicated' |
| Mr Kaczynski, a conservative who has long opposed the reform treaty, was speaking in an interview with the Polish daily Dziennik. | Mr Kaczynski, a conservative who has long opposed the reform treaty, was speaking in an interview with the Polish daily Dziennik. |
| Something isn't right. Something isn't right at all Nicolas Sarkozy href="/1/hi/world/europe/7483370.stm">Why Poland has broken ranks class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7476140.stm">Can French flair beat EU blues?France set for lively EU presidencyQ&A: The Lisbon Treaty | |
| "For the moment, the question of the treaty is pointless," he said. | "For the moment, the question of the treaty is pointless," he said. |
| Although the Polish parliament ratified the treaty in April, it still needs the signature of the president. | Although the Polish parliament ratified the treaty in April, it still needs the signature of the president. |
| The BBC's Adam Easton in Warsaw says Mr Kaczynski's comments are unsurprising as he is opposed to deeper European integration. | The BBC's Adam Easton in Warsaw says Mr Kaczynski's comments are unsurprising as he is opposed to deeper European integration. |
| Our correspondent says the president would be happy to see the Nice Treaty, which currently governs the way the EU operates and gives Poland disproportionate strength, remain in force for a while longer. | Our correspondent says the president would be happy to see the Nice Treaty, which currently governs the way the EU operates and gives Poland disproportionate strength, remain in force for a while longer. |
| However, he is in conflict with Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who has said the EU will find a way to bring the treaty into force. | However, he is in conflict with Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who has said the EU will find a way to bring the treaty into force. |
| Ireland's 'No' vote delivered a huge blow to the Lisbon Treaty | Ireland's 'No' vote delivered a huge blow to the Lisbon Treaty |
| Mr Tusk said: "I hope the president will re-consider this position. I have no doubt that the treaty's ratification is in Poland's best interest." | Mr Tusk said: "I hope the president will re-consider this position. I have no doubt that the treaty's ratification is in Poland's best interest." |
| Mr Kaczynski has joined his Czech counterpart in openly opposing treaty ratification. | Mr Kaczynski has joined his Czech counterpart in openly opposing treaty ratification. |
| Czech President Vaclav Klaus, and many lawmakers, do not want to sign the treaty while its future is still uncertain. | Czech President Vaclav Klaus, and many lawmakers, do not want to sign the treaty while its future is still uncertain. |
| German President Horst Koehler has also delayed ratification - until the country's highest court has delivered a ruling on legal challenges. | German President Horst Koehler has also delayed ratification - until the country's highest court has delivered a ruling on legal challenges. |
| Mr Kaczynski warned EU members not to pressure Ireland to find a solution. | Mr Kaczynski warned EU members not to pressure Ireland to find a solution. |
| "If one breaks the rule of unanimity one time, it will never exist again," he said. | "If one breaks the rule of unanimity one time, it will never exist again," he said. |
| However, the president did say he thought the EU would carry on working. "Certainly it isn't ideal, but a structure this complicated couldn't be ideal," he said. | However, the president did say he thought the EU would carry on working. "Certainly it isn't ideal, but a structure this complicated couldn't be ideal," he said. |
| 'Step backward' | 'Step backward' |
| There will be a ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris on Tuesday to mark the beginning of France's six-month presidency, which it takes over from Slovenia. | There will be a ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris on Tuesday to mark the beginning of France's six-month presidency, which it takes over from Slovenia. |
| But Mr Kaczynski's comments will mark a difficult opening to the French stint. | But Mr Kaczynski's comments will mark a difficult opening to the French stint. |
| President Sarkozy expressed his concerns in an interview on French television channel France 3. | President Sarkozy expressed his concerns in an interview on French television channel France 3. |
| Mr Sarkozy said: "Something isn't right. Something isn't right at all." | Mr Sarkozy said: "Something isn't right. Something isn't right at all." |
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| The Eiffel Tower is illuminated as France takes over the EU presidency | The Eiffel Tower is illuminated as France takes over the EU presidency |
| "Europe worries people and, worse than that, I find, little by little our fellow citizens are asking themselves if, after all, the national level isn't better equipped to protect them than the European level," he added, calling such thinking a "step backward". | "Europe worries people and, worse than that, I find, little by little our fellow citizens are asking themselves if, after all, the national level isn't better equipped to protect them than the European level," he added, calling such thinking a "step backward". |
| Mr Sarkozy said: "The first priority is to pinpoint the problem with the Irish voters and to continue to allow other countries to be ratified, especially our Czech friends." | Mr Sarkozy said: "The first priority is to pinpoint the problem with the Irish voters and to continue to allow other countries to be ratified, especially our Czech friends." |
| HAVE YOUR SAYThe balancing act between an alliance of the like-minded and an integrated political entity has reached a tipping pointPaul, UK Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYThe balancing act between an alliance of the like-minded and an integrated political entity has reached a tipping pointPaul, UK Send us your comments |
| Asked if Ireland should vote again, he said: "I don't want to say it like that because it would give the impression of forcing their hand." | Asked if Ireland should vote again, he said: "I don't want to say it like that because it would give the impression of forcing their hand." |
| Mr Sarkozy will travel to Dublin on 11 July to hear Irish voters' concerns first-hand. | Mr Sarkozy will travel to Dublin on 11 July to hear Irish voters' concerns first-hand. |
| EU leaders are due to meet in October to hear from Ireland's prime minister on how to move forward after the "No" vote. | EU leaders are due to meet in October to hear from Ireland's prime minister on how to move forward after the "No" vote. |
| France has set out ambitious plans on immigration, the environment, agriculture and defence for its presidency. | France has set out ambitious plans on immigration, the environment, agriculture and defence for its presidency. |
| Mr Sarkozy also said he would also work for a Europe-wide cut in value-added tax on restaurant bills and oil to help consumers cope with soaring crude prices. | Mr Sarkozy also said he would also work for a Europe-wide cut in value-added tax on restaurant bills and oil to help consumers cope with soaring crude prices. |
| But his call for the EU to cut VAT on fuel has received little support from other member states. | But his call for the EU to cut VAT on fuel has received little support from other member states. |