Constitutional Court gives green light to vote on Lisbon ratification

The Czech Constitutional Court has ruled that the European Union’s Lisbon treaty is in line with the Czech constitution, paving the way for the country’s parliament to vote on ratifying the document. The court had considered the constitutionality of the EU’s reform treaty at the request of the Senate. The Czech foreign minister, Karel Schwarzenberg, welcomed the verdict, saying it was good news for the Czechs and good news for the whole of Europe. The zech prime minister, Mirek Topolánek, said he expected debate on the subject to continue. As for when the Czech Parliament will vote on ratifying Lisbon, the prime minister said the date was in the hands of parliamentary committees. Previously he had said the vote would be held in the first three months of next year, though there have been suggestions it could be held by the end of this year – that is, before the Czech presidency of the EU begins on January 1. The Green Party have called for a special session of Parliament so a vote on ratification can be held as quickly as possible.

Meanwhile, it is possible legislators could send the Lisbon treaty to the Constitutional Court for consideration again. The court was asked to examine six articles of Lisbon and did so – it could in theory now be asked to look at other parts of the document.

Author: Ian Willoughby