Press Advisories

12. 10. 2009 16:11

Statement by the Government of the Czech Republic on the ratification process of the Lisbon Treaty

The Government of the Czech Republic takes note of the position of the President of the Republic.

The President has conditioned the completion of the ratification process of the Lisbon Treaty upon the granting of a guarantee that an opt-out, similar to that which Poland and the UK have been granted, will be negotiated for the Czech Republic.

The Government regrets that this particular condition of the President was raised neither during the negotiations of the Lisbon Treaty nor during its ratification process in the Czech Parliament.

The Government affirms that the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU cannot be applied retroactively, and hence cannot by any means affect post-war property arrangements. The Government emphasizes that the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU has already been declared compatible with the Czech constitutional order by the Constitutional Court.

Following a thorough assessment of all domestic and international implications, the Government, nonetheless, declares its willingness to discuss a possible solution to this situation with its European partners.

The Government is prepared to take recourse to this nonstandard move;

• whilst it considers the re-opening of the ratification process in fellow EU Member States impossible;

• provided that its actions will not be disputed by the Parliament of the Czech Republic, which has already approved the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty by constitutional majority and without any further conditions;

• provided that the President gives the Government a definite and explicit guarantee, that if his condition is addressed and the Constitutional Court finds no contradiction, in the pending case, between the Lisbon Treaty and the Czech constitutional order, he will complete its ratification without any delay.

The Government re-affirms the commitment of the Czech Republic to complete the ratification process of the Lisbon Treaty, such that it can enter into force by the end of the year, as stated in the conclusions of the June 2009 European Council.

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