If the US complied with the request, it would start checking the Lisbon treaty immediately, regardless of other cases that had been submitted to it earlier. The Senate, dominated by the senior ruling Civic Democrats (ODS), asked the US to check the treaty's compatibility with the Czech constitution in April. The Lisbon treaty is to reform EU institutions.
It introduces the posts of the EU's representative for foreign affairs and security, and of the European Council head, elected for 2.5 years. It divides powers between the EU and the member states and sets possibilities for their transfer in both directions. The Czech Senate has proposed that the US assesses six points of Czech court may review recognition of ICC court ...
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Czechs critical of work of their MEPs-poll ... the treaty, including the possibility of the Council of the EU's decision making method being changed from an unanimous to a majority vote, which would strip member states of their right to veto, the way of the recognition of the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights, and the Czech Republic's legal obligation to observe it. "Is this dimension of parliamentary democracy sufficient, in view of the EU's character as a community of states (not a federal state)?" the senators ask the US in their request. They also ask whether the treaty violates the article of the Czech Constitution saying that legislative power in the Czech Republic is held by parliament. Sona Paukrtova, senator from the non-government Open Democracy Club (KOD), told journalists today that in her opinion there is no cogent reason to have the Lisbon treaty checked by the US. Paukrtova emphasised that it is mainly ODS senators who had pushed through the treaty's assessment, while senators from non-government parties called for the Senate to approve the treaty within the Czech ratification process, in accordance with the government's proposal. Some observers have shown embarrassment at the ODS-led government having signed the treaty and the legislators for the ODS, a party presenting itself as Eurorealists, now trying hard to prevent its smooth ratification. Paukrtova said that if the US uncovered any discrepancy between the treaty and the Czech Constitution, the Czech Republic could either prefer not to ratify the treaty or to change the constitution. Such change, however, could not be accomplished as quickly as by the end of the year, when all EU countries are expected to have ratified the treaty, a condition for it to take effect as of next year. Paukrtova said the KOD group of senators is similarly against the Senate asking the US to assess the treaty on the recognition of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which some ODS senators want to propose.
(Ceske Noviny)
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