The report made it through by votes of a crushing majority of MEPs. The ODS MEPs abstained from the vote, as did one of the Czech Christian Democrat (KDU-CSL) MEPs. "The report on the Lisbon treaty is unacceptable.
Among others it expresses regret at all the changes the treaty contains compared with the [stalled] European constitution, that have been fortunately pushed through. Thereby it goes against the Czech government's position," Jan Zahradil, head of the ODS MEPs, told CTK. The ODS, which presents itself as a "Eurorealist party," fiercely criticised the European constitution before the project ended in a stalemate. Another reason for the ODS's abstention, Zahradil said, was that the EP failed to pass the ODS's proposal that Islam critic asks for protection ...
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MEPs disrupt EU charter signing ... negotiations on the EU voting system be reopened as soon as the Lisbon "reform" treaty comes into force. The EU voting system caused a number complications during the negotiations on the treaty on the EU soil last year. KDU-CSL MEP Jan Brezina abstained from the vote today saying he does not clearly understand what the position of the Charter of fundamental rights is. The charter is not directly a part of the treaty but there is no binding reference to it in the treaty. According to Brezina, it is not ruled out that EU bodies might be able to interfere in member countries' sovereign powers under the pretext of human rights protection. The treaty assessment report was supported by 525 MEPs, while 115 voted against it and 29 abstained from the vote. The two MEPs for the Czech senior opposition Social Democratic Party (CSSD) voted for the report. One of them, Libor Roucek, said it was a reasonable compromise document. He said the ODS's position did not surprise him. What is embarrassing, he said, is the fact that the ODS MEPs are representatives of the Czech senior ruling party and that the Czech government had signed the treaty and submitted it to parliament for ratification. The approach of the government and of the ODS have contributed to the Czechs Republic's image as an untrustworthy country now that the Czech EU presidency has drawn nearer, Roucek said. The Czech Republic will hold the rotating presidency in the first half of 2009, when the Lisbon Treaty might take effect if all EU countries sign it by the end of this year. The reform treaty provides for profound changes in the EU. It modifies the way of decision making in EU institutions and lowers the number of spheres where member states' veto can be applied. The treaty reckons with the establishment of two new posts, European Council standing chairman and a joint foreign minister.
(Ceske Noviny)
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