Hopes Czech leader coming around to treaty

IRELAND completed its ratification of the Lisbon Treaty when European Affairs Minister Dick Roche deposited it in Rome yesterday.

It coincided with some positive signs that Czech President Vaclav Klaus is getting ready to sign. He is the only EU leader yet to sign it. Klaus wants an opt-out from the Charter of Fundamental Rights and his spokesperson said he had received a proposal on this from the Swedish EU presidency. It conformed to the president’s view but would require further work, he said.

But in an indication the deeply eurosceptic president has not given up hope of defeating the treaty, he sent further objections to the country’s constitutional court due to hear a case saying the treaty is contrary to the Czech constitution.