(Adds quotes, background)
By Jan Korselt
BRNO, Czech Republic, Nov 26 (Reuters) - The Czech
Constitutional Court ruled on Wednesday that the EU reform
treaty conforms with Czech law, removing an obstacle to its
ratification in a country about to take over the EU presidency.
If approved by all European Union member states, the Lisbon
Treaty will limit individual EU members' powers in some
decisions, and give the union a permanent president and a more
powerful foreign representative.
The ruling allows parliament to proceed with ratification, a
process that had been held up by a constitutional challenge
raised by the Senate, the upper house of the Czech parliament.
Failure to ratify the treaty so far has raised doubts in the
EU about the likely performance of the 6-month Czech EU
presidency, starting in January.
"It is good news for us and for all of Europe," Czech
Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg told Reuters after the
court ruling.
"Despite the delay that occurred, all doubts raised by the
Senate were dispelled, the Lisbon treaty is not in conflict with
the constitutional order, and let us be grateful for this
certainty."
The court's finding that the treaty does not infringe the
constitution is a big step forward in the ratification process.
But it does not entirely rule out further legal challenges
and also does not guarantee smooth passage through both houses
of parliament.
The treaty faces opposition from some government
backbenchers, backed by President Vaclav Klaus, a eurosceptic
who rejects any transfer of national powers to the EU.
"Theoretically, ratification should take place quickly,
because there are no obstacles to it, but that is not certain at
all," said political analyst Tomas Lebeda.
"On the one hand there is the pressure of our EU presidency
... but on the other hand there are still very influential
factions within (the ruling) Civic Democrats that are against
the Lisbon Treaty."
EYES ON CZECHS AND IRELAND
Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, who also dislikes the treaty
but has grudgingly backed it as a price worth paying for EU
membership, has said ratification is unlikely to be completed
before January, when the Czech EU presidency starts.
Topolanek has said some of his party's deputies may refuse
to support Lisbon unless the leftist opposition backs plans to
build a U.S. anti-missile defence radar in the Czech Republic.
The Czechs are the last EU country that has not put the
treaty to a vote. It has been approved by 25 members, although
ratification still needs to be completed by presidential
signatures in Germany, where the top court is also reviewing the
document, and Poland.
Ireland is the only member state that has rejected the
treaty -- in a referendum earlier this year.
The Irish government is expected to tell its European
partners next month how it wants to proceed. It has said it may
ask the Irish people to revisit the question.
President Klaus, whose signature is also needed to complete
ratification, said on Tuesday he would not stand in the way of
the treaty if all other countries -- including Ireland -- agree
to it.
This position is similar to that of Polish President Lech
Kaczynski, who has said he will wait for an Irish 'yes' before
inking the document.
(Additional reporting by Jana Mlcochova; Editing by Giles
Elgood)
