Speaking at the meeting of the Czech lower house committee for European affairs, Fries said the problems that France is faced with will expectedly persist during the Czech presidency in the first half of 2009.France respects the rejection France passes constitutional reforms ...
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That is why it will come up with its own proposals concerning further steps in connection with the treaty only in December. Before, the French presidency wants to hear what options the Irish government would offer, Fries said.He emphasised that the Lisbon treaty, introducing an internal reform of the EU, has been ratified by 24 of the EU's 27 states, which is why the issue still remains open.Fries told Czech deputies that apart from Ireland, only two states have not yet ratified the treaty. They are Sweden and the Czech Republic.Sweden is to ratify it in November, he said."We'd like the situation not to be further complicated after the Irish 'no'," Fries said.In the Czech Republic, the process of the treaty ratification has been suspended until the Constitutional court assesses the treaty's compatibility with the Czech constitution, at the request of the upper house, initiated by the senior ruling Civic Democrats (ODS).After the court decides, Czech parliament is to resume the ratification procedure.Fries reiterated that France has set the Lisbon treaty ratification by all EU members, a requirement for it to come into force, as a condition for the EU's further enlargement.The French presidency and the Czech government differ in this point, he said.Czech PM Mirek Topolanek (ODS) said in Zagreb on Monday that Prague supports Croatia's quick accession to the EU. He said Paris's effort to link the enlargement with the Lisbon treaty amounts to unacceptable pressure that is to "force" Ireland and other countries into speeding up the process of ratification.Fries said France, too, is interested in a quick completion of the accession talks with Croatia."Nevertheless, difference must be made between the closure of negotiations and a country's entry into the EU," he said.Before admitting Croatia, whatever the year of admission, the EU should have a new framework treaty, Fries said.According to Topolanek, Croatia could join the EU in 2011.
(Ceske Noviny)
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