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Slovak MPs drop EU treaty threat Slovakia postpones EU treaty vote
(about 8 hours later)
Slovakia's centre-right opposition has withdrawn its threat to block ratification of the EU reform treaty. Slovakia postponed ratification of the EU reform treaty after the opposition refused to budge on a threat to derail it, in protest over a government bill.
The announcement came after the centre-left government shelved a controversial bill which critics said could curb media freedom. The centre-right opposition has vowed to walk out if the treaty is put to the vote, even though they back the treaty.
Slovak prime minister Robert Fico accused the opposition of blackmail over the issue. The party said it could not approve the text, with its charter of human rights, because it claimed a government media bill breached those very rights.
The EU text - which replaces a more ambitious constitution - needs to be approved by all 27 EU member states. The revised EU treaty must be approved by all 27 EU member states.
The opposition Democratic and Christian Union party (SDKU) said it would be wrong to approve the treaty and accompanying charter of human rights without challenging the media bill, which it said contravened those rights. The Slovak parliament deferred a planned vote on the EU treaty for a day until 1700 (1600 GMT) on Thursday.
Press curbs 'Press curbs'
Last week, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe said the bill would curb press freedom by letting the government fine media outlets if it judged them to be promoting "socially harmful" behaviour. Prime Minister Robert Fico said EU states were "shocked" the treaty was being used in internal politics.
A parliamentary vote on the bill and the EU treaty was planned Wednesday, but the government agreed to withdraw the bill for further discussion. And he defied the opposition Democratic and Christian Union party (SDKU) by refusing to give in on the media bill.
Europe's democracy watchdog last week said the media bill would curb press freedom.
The legislation would allow media outlets deemed to be promoting "socially harmful" behaviour to be fined, warned the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
The ruling coalition is five votes short of the 90 necessary for the treaty to be ratified in the 150-seat parliament.The ruling coalition is five votes short of the 90 necessary for the treaty to be ratified in the 150-seat parliament.
The EU treaty has so far been ratified by the parliaments of Slovenia and Malta this month, and Hungary last month.The EU treaty has so far been ratified by the parliaments of Slovenia and Malta this month, and Hungary last month.
It replaces a more ambitious constitution which was abandoned after being rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005, and is designed to streamline the way the enlarged union operates. It replaces a more ambitious constitution that was abandoned after being rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005, and is designed to streamline the way the enlarged union operates.