Vaclav Klaus appears resigned to ratifying treaty, paving the way for Britain's former prime minister to take the helm Tony Blair's chances of being appointed the first European Unionpresident within months rose yesterday after the Czech president claimed the Lisbon Treaty had progressed too far "to stop it or turn it around". Vaclav Klaus, the sole EU leader yet to ratify the treaty, stunned the EU this month when he demanded an opt-out clause to shield the Czech Republic from property claims made by ethnic Germans expelled from the country after the second world war. His demands raised concerns that final ratification could require a lengthy new process among all EU members. But on Saturday, Klaus, a staunch eurosceptic, suggested that despite his continued opposition to the treaty, which creates the post of EU president and aims to streamline EU decision-making, it would soon become law across the EU. Klaus told Lidove Noviny newspaper: "I do not consider the Lisbon Treaty to be a good thing for Europe, for the freedom of Europe, or for the Czech Republic. "However, the train has already travelled so fast and so far that I guess it will not be possible to stop it or turn it around, however much we would wish to." The first discussion of candidates for the EU presidency is expected to take place at a Brussels summit of heads of state in two weeks' time. Despite uncertainties over the attitude of Germany's president, Angela Merkel, towards Blair's candidacy, he remains the bookies' favourite.Tony Blair's EU presidential hopes boosted as Czech leader relents on Lisbon
Sunday 18 October 2009
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