Wednesday, 14 January 2009

This EUO site is losing its detached position it has long held and is 
now often a mere mouthpiece for the Commission's view .  But these 
remarks by the Czech PM who is NOT opposed to the treaty himself  are 
timely.  His President is a treaty opponent and is open `about it.

No wonder the arrogant Sarkozy, holding the presidency until two 
weeks ago  was reluctant to hand over to the Czechs!!

xxxxxxxxxx cs

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EU OBSERVER   14.1.09
Czech PM gives scant praise to Lisbon treaty
HONOR MAHONY

  BRUSSELS - Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek has trampled on the 
EU's unspoken rule [Since every one else breaks the rules all the 
time this is jusdt making up for lost opportunities -cs] that 
presidency countries do not offer a controversial opinion on the 
sensitive topic of the moment.


Speaking to MEPs in Strasbourg on Wednesday (14 January), Mr 
Topolanek, in charge of the EU for the first half of this year, 
offered only half-hearted support for the EU's new rulebook - seven 
years in the making and facing an uncertain future - and expressed 
doubts that Czech citizens would approve it in a referendum.

"It's an average treaty, a bit better than the [current] Nice 
treaty," he said and expressed annoyance about the pressure on member 
states to ratify the Lisbon treaty.

"Telling member states in advance that they have to ratify the treaty 
and ...that they do not have the right ...to decide whether to 
approve it or not is absurd," Mr Topolanek said, according to AFP 
news agency.

He noted that if there was a referendum on Lisbon in his country then 
it "would also not be accepted" in a comment unlikely to be welcomed 
by the Irish government, [But the Irish people will probably welcome 
it -cs]  which is gearing itself up for a second vote on the charter 
after Irish voters rejected it first time round last year.

His words were quickly seized upon by the anti-treaty camp in Ireland.
Mary-Lou McDonald, an MEP for Sinn Fein which campaigned against the 
document, welcomed Mr Topolanek's "candour" and said it illustrated 
"the massive discrepancy between the political establishment of 
Europe and member state citizens."  [The people don't want the treaty 
in France, Holland and Ireland and probably many others too, denied a 
vote! -cs]

The Czech Republic is the only country which has not yet expressed 
itself on the treaty. Prague's treaty debate has become embroiled in 
domestic issues. In addition, several MPs do not like the document 
which is due to be voted on in the lower house of parliament on 3 
February.

For his part, Mr Topolanek told euro-deputies that as he had 
negotiated and signed off the Lisbon treaty, he personally would vote 
for it.

With or without the Czech leader's controversial words, the Lisbon 
treaty is set to stay high on the political agenda over the coming 
months.

One of the main tasks for Prague will be to negotiate a legal 
framework for the political promises made to Ireland by other member 
states about the text - on tax issues, neutrality and family law.

Dublin has indicated that it will hold its second referendum later 
this year - it is expected to take place in the autumn.