Lisbon unlikely to be settled before Czech presidency of union

THE CZECH Republic says it is unlikely to have decided whether to accept the European Union's embattled Lisbon Treaty when it takes over the presidency of the bloc in January.

Prague came under great pressure to ratify the treaty from advocates like France and Germany following Ireland's No vote, but the process has been put on hold until the Czech constitutional court rules on its legality at the end of November.

If the charter is found to be in line with the Czech constitution, parliament must approve it, but that step is now likely to be complicated by the efforts of members of the ruling Civic Democrats (ODS) to link its passage to that of a controversial deal to build a US missile defence radar system near Prague.

"The delay complicates our life under the EU presidency because, although no one in the ODS will admit it, the Lisbon Treaty will not pass in the lower house without the radar," said Czech prime minister Mirek Topolanek.

The centre-right ODS strongly backs plans for the radar base, which are opposed by much of the centre-left and left-wing opposition. Taking the lead from its founder, President Václav Klaus, the ODS is broadly against the treaty, however, while much of the opposition supports it.

"I can only state the truth that, for the ODS, the geopolitical question of placing the radar on our soil is so important that, if it does not go through, the ODS will disobey me in the vote on ratifying the Lisbon Treaty," said Mr Topolanek, who is personally in favour of the treaty.

Deputy prime minister Alexander Vondra was also quoted as saying Prague could not guarantee that the treaty would be approved by the end of the year.

Czech rejection of the treaty could kill it off, while Prague's acceptance would deepen Ireland's isolation on the contentious issue.

The constitutional court's ruling was postponed from November 10th to November 25th because Mr Klaus wants to speak at a final hearing on the matter. He will be visiting Ireland from November 10th-12th.