Klaus calls for Parliament to vote on Ireland Lisbon guarantees, Fule says not necessary

A document of guarantees for Ireland that is to be debated at the upcoming EU summit in Brussels and which would then pave the way for Irish ratification of the Lisbon treaty should first be approved by the Czech Parliament, said President Václav Klaus on Wednesday. Mr Klaus, a fierce critic of the Lisbon treaty, said it would not be constitutional to take an ‘international policy document’ to Brussels without first the consent of the Czech Parliament. In response, Minister for European Affairs Štefan Fule said that the document was, in fact, a ‘treaty between governments’ which did not need Parliament’s backing. The document will not, therefore, go to the vote. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Jan Fischer’s mandate for the upcoming Brussels summit was unanimously approved by the government.

Author: Rosie Johnston