Change Czech constitution over Lisbon Treaty, says PM

CZECH REPUBLIC:THE CZECH Republic should change its constitution if it contradicts the Lisbon Treaty, prime minister Mirek Topolanek has said.

Prague came under great pressure to ratify the treaty from France and Germany following Ireland's recent No vote, but the process has been put on hold until the constitutional court rules on its legality, probably in October.

Of the EU members that have not yet ratified the treaty, the Czech Republic is the one seen as most likely to reject it, an outcome that could kill off the document. If Prague approved the charter, however, Ireland's isolation on the issue would deepen.

"The constitutional court may, but does not have to, point out differences between the Lisbon Treaty with our constitution," Mr Topolanek said. "If that happens . . . then there are basically two solutions. The one I prefer is the relevant change of the constitution." The other option would be to negotiate unspecified concessions or opt-outs for the Czech Republic - and perhaps Ireland, if the two countries' reservations about the treaty were similar.

Mr Topolanek's Civic Democrat party is divided over the merits of the treaty, with some senior party members declaring it dead after Ireland's referendum.

The co-founder of the party, President Vaclav Klaus, has long ridiculed the charter but, if the constitutional court clears it and both houses of parliament ratify it, he must sign the treaty for it to come into force. He has not yet indicated whether he would sign.