Prague,23 October  2009 - As part of its discussion about the upcoming European Council,   the Committee for European Affairs also addressed institutional issues at today’s meeting.

Minister  of  European Affairs Štefan Füle pointed out that a commitment by Member States to accede the Czech Republic to the relevant protocol appears to be  the easiest way  to  accommodate  the  request of President Václav Klaus for an opt-out from  the  Charter  of the Fundamental Rights of the EU to similar to  Poland and the UK.

Minister Füle further emphasized that the exact form of this arrangement is currently being discussed at the highest political level.

The so-called opt-out of Poland and the UK is part of Protocol 30 of the Lisbon Treaty.  The Czech Republic could accede to it as a part of the next amendment of primary EU law that is most likely to take place together with the Union’s next enlargement.

Contact:

Marie Faturová, press spokeswoman for European affairs

e-mail:faturova.marie@vlada.cz, +420 725 845 697

Office of the Government of the Czech Republic,

Nábřeží Edvarda Beneše 4, 118 01 Praha 1 - Malá Strana