CZECH REPUBLIC:THE UPPER house of the Czech parliament yesterday referred the EU Lisbon Treaty to the country's top court to rule on its constitutionality, delaying the ratification process.
In Berlin, meanwhile, the lower house Bundestag voted overwhelmingly for the treaty after a two-hour debate, completing the first stage of ratification.
In Copenhagen, following approval of the treaty by a 90-25 majority in parliament, the government hinted that Denmark might now hold a referendum in the autumn on whether to adopt the euro currency and remove its other remaining "opt-outs" from the EU's common policies.
Austria has also completed its parliamentary ratification.
The treaty must win approval in all 27 EU states to take effect. To date 11 have ratified it, including also Portugal on Tuesday.
Ireland, alone in putting it to a referendum, will vote on June 12th.
The request to send the treaty to the Czech constitutional court was approved in the senate with the votes of the mildly euro-sceptic ruling centre-right Civic Democrats, some of whom disapprove of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and of the reduction in the voting weight of the Czech Republic in the EU.
The opposition is mostly in favour of the document.
The court is expected to rule some time in the summer.
In the Bundestag some 515 MPs - over 90 per cent of deputies - voted in favour, well in excess of the two-thirds majority required.
"This treaty is good for Europe and good for the citizens of this country," said chancellor Angela Merkel. "It strengthens Germany's role in Europe and the rights of all national parliaments."
The new treaty will promote closer political union in the EU, "but that doesn't mean a state, and it won't become a state," she said.
The German leader added that the treaty would help co-ordinate immigration and integration measures, promote financial market transparency, and help tackle terrorism and climate change.
Only the 58 MPs of the Left Party voted against.
"The way this treaty came about - behind closed doors - speaks volumes. It is a treaty for governments not the citizens," said Left Party parliamentary leader, Lothar Bisky.
"We reject this kind of politics. European politics can no longer be a politics by elites for elites."
He said that left-wing parties across Europe as well as trade unions were calling for a "referendum on the foundation of the European house".
"We point to Ireland," he said. "That is the sensible route."
Following yesterday's vote, the treaty ratification bill will go next month before Germany's upper house, the Bundesrat, representing the federal states, for almost certain approval, after which it is likely also to be referred to the German constitutional court by a Bavarian MP.
In Copenhagen Danish finance minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen said yesterday it would be better to vote on the euro and Danish opt-out issues well before the next general election in Denmark, which must be held before November 2011.
"It's not wise to compete in an election and at the same time try to have a political consensus" on issues such as the euro, said Mr Rasmussen. "This suggests a referendum not too far into an electoral period. That's why some people think that there might be a referendum in the autumn."
A referendum in the autumn would increase speculation that Danish prime minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen is a strong contender for the new post of president of the European Council.
France and Belgium have both indicated they would prefer the first president to come from a state that does not opt out of major areas of EU policy.
Mr Rasmussen has also won plaudits in Brussels for ensuring that Denmark did not hold a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty and for his outspoken stance on climate change.
Political observers say the Danish coalition has three possible options for its referendums: a "big bang" poll - where the public vote to remove all four "opt-outs" in justice, citizenship and defence matters in a single vote; a "menu" referendum - where the public can vote for or against each of the four opt-outs; and a so-called "salami-style" referendum - where the referendums are held on different dates running up until 2011.