Czech case on Lisbon Treaty adjourned
Tuesday, 27 October 2009 15:48
An official of the Constitutional Court of the Czech Republic has said that it was 'very probable' that a ruling on a legal challenge to the Lisbon Treaty would be delivered next Tuesday.
The court sat today to consider the matter, before adjourning until 3 November.
It was hoped at the hearing that one of the last remaining obstacles to the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty would be removed.
The Czech Republic is the only country in the 27-member union not to have ratified the treaty.
The court opened the hearing on a complaint against the Treaty filed by a group of members of the Czech upper house who are loyal to euro-sceptic President Vaclav Klaus. They see the treaty as an infringement of Czech sovereignty.
Before the hearing, right-leaning senator Jiri Oberfalzer said the group was not planning another complaint if the court ruled against them.
Most lawyers expect the court to rule that the Treaty adheres to the Czech constitution. It has already rejected one challenge against the document made last year.
Such a decision would allow Mr Klaus to sign the treaty and thus complete the ratification process in the Czech Republic and the entire union.
President Klaus, however, has also demanded an opt-out from a charter of rights attached to the treaty before he signs, a condition to be discussed by EU leaders at a summit on Thursday and Friday.
