The decision of the Czech supreme court is very welcome, although hardly a surprise. The quality of the Senate's six questions to the Court, as well as the intervention of President Klaus, was erratic. Neither the Senate nor the President showed a sure grasp of the realities of the legal constitutional order of the European Union, or of the fact that when the Czech Republic signed up to become a member state of the Union it was subscribing not only to the acquis communautaire of the past but also to all future obligations.

 

"Now is the time for all member states to bury the stale existential question about 'Europe: yes or no?'. At this time of global crisis, it is truly absurd to go on arguing about the relevance of a reformed and strengthened European Union. Europe needs to unite if it is to prosper -- and the Czech Republic can now make an important contribution to European unification.

 

"The Czech Parliament would be wise to ratify the Treaty of Lisbon immediately, before the end of this year. The Czech government will lack credibility and authority as the serving presidency of the EU unless and until it can secure the ratification of the Treaty at home."

 

Andrew Duff, president of UEF