Czech leader vows Lisbon will not be fast-tracked

EUROSCEPTIC Czech president Václav Klaus yesterday bluntly warned the Taoiseach his country would not fast-track the Lisbon treaty when it takes over the EU in January.

On the first day of an unusually tense state visit to Ireland Mr Klaus, who has previously called for the abolition of the EU, insisted “Lisbon as fast as possible” would not be the Czech priority.

Mr Klaus had already angered the Government with his decision to have dinner with Libertas leader Declan Ganley — who he described as a “fellow European dissident” — during his three-day visit.