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Poland President Refuses to Sign Lisbon Treaty
World | July 1, 2008, Tuesday // 00:00
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Poland's President Lech Kaczynski says he will not sign the Lisbon Treaty at present, following its defeat in an Irish referendum last month, BBC reported Tuesday.
He said it would be "pointless" to sign the EU's reform treaty, even though the country's parliament has ratified it in April.
"For the moment, the question of the treaty is pointless," he said.
Mr Kaczynski now appears to have joined his Czech counterpart Vaclav Klaus in openly opposing treaty ratification.
"The union is functioning and will continue to function. Certainly it is not ideal, but a structure this complicated could not be ideal," he explained.
German President Horst Koehler has also delayed ratification - until the country's highest court has delivered a ruling on legal challenges.
The Lisbon Treaty is intended to streamline EU decision-making following enlargement of the bloc, creating a new EU president and foreign affairs chief. It has to be ratified by all 27 member states.
EU leaders are due to meet in October to hear from Ireland's prime minister on how to move forward after the 'No' vote on the treaty's ratification.
He said it would be "pointless" to sign the EU's reform treaty, even though the country's parliament has ratified it in April.
"For the moment, the question of the treaty is pointless," he said.
Mr Kaczynski now appears to have joined his Czech counterpart Vaclav Klaus in openly opposing treaty ratification.
"The union is functioning and will continue to function. Certainly it is not ideal, but a structure this complicated could not be ideal," he explained.
German President Horst Koehler has also delayed ratification - until the country's highest court has delivered a ruling on legal challenges.
The Lisbon Treaty is intended to streamline EU decision-making following enlargement of the bloc, creating a new EU president and foreign affairs chief. It has to be ratified by all 27 member states.
EU leaders are due to meet in October to hear from Ireland's prime minister on how to move forward after the 'No' vote on the treaty's ratification.
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