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Czech lower house approves EU reform treaty

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] The Czech Republic's Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of the nation's parliament, on Wednesday approved the European Union (EU) reform pact known as the Treaty of Lisbon. The approval brings the treaty closer to full ratification by the EU's 27 member states, though it still must pass the nation's Senate, be signed by President Vaclav Klaus and face a referendum in Ireland. The measure is expected to draw rigorous debate in the Senate, where some leaders want to delay ratification until the parliament approves a plan to host a radar base for a US missile defense system. If the agreement does pass the Senate, Klaus has expressed a desire to put off signing it until the issue is resolved in Ireland. The Czech Republic, which currently holds the EU's six-month, rotating presidency, has faced pressure from EU states to approve the agreement after delays, including a failed constitutional challenge. Irish voters rejected the treaty in a June 2008 referendum, prompting Polish President Lech Kaczynski to refuse to sign, calling it "pointless." In November 2008, Sweden became the 24th EU state to ratify the charter. In 2005, a proposed European constitution failed when voters in France and the Netherlands rejected the proposal in national referenda.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on February 18, 2009 (boomark / email).