Klaus says treaty too far gone to block it

CZECH president Vaclav Klaus has said he believes the Lisbon Treaty will come into force despite his attempts to block it, giving a glimmer of hope he may sign it in the coming weeks.

The last EU leader to sign the treaty, the deeply euro-sceptic president played down the importance of the document designed to streamline the union’s institutions. He did not concede in an interview with Czech newspaper Lidove Noviny published on Saturday that he would sign the treaty or when he might do so, but he said it would eventually take effect.

He did not consider it good for Europe or his country, he said, adding: “However, the train with it has been set into motion so fast and has gone so far that it will be probably impossible to stop or return it although many may wish it.”