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The Treaty of discord and institutional break
"A stronger and more fair Europe", "A more effective one":
These phrases sound each day, about the Treaty of Lisbon, but they seem to be in vain each time a text is in the way. Do those words have sense in Europe among so many Eurosceptics?
For ten years, European Union is going through a constant obstacle race: one, another, another, and so on. We take a step forward and two steps back. The papers are signed, but reluctantly. What is happening with thistext?
Obstacles
In 2001, the adoption of the Nice Treaty took Europe a lot of hard work. In 2004, the EU Constitution was never ratified, because of opposition from France and the Netherlands. In 2008, the Irish rejected the Lisbon Treaty by referendum, although it passed less than a month ago in second round. However, in a matter of days, a new enemy was emerging: Czech Republic. Its president, Vaclav Klaus, is facing Europe and hesitates for sing the text.
He was opposing the Treaty for a long time, but has been in recent weeks when his position was clearer: that of a Eurosceptic who vote for accession to the EU but puts his heel.
Two reasons are driving his position: first, to consult the Constitutional Court if the legislative text is adapted to the Czech Constitution. Second, obtain exemption from the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union to ensure that the German minority expelled from the Czechoslovakian Sudetenland after World War II cannot claim for compensation.
Successive arrogant Klaus’ comments and behavior favored the creation of a circle of enemies, and also the critics pointed to him. But Czech President did not show any weakness yet. On the contrary, he speaks with his head held high before the critics, rather than the ones coming from the press, the ones from the European Institutions.
The president of Slovakia, Robert Fico, decided to join the Czech request making the following comment published by the Spanish press agency EFE: "We have two choices: to veto the Czech proposal the European Council or require that would be also applied to Slovakia ".
Fico is referring to the European Council of Heads of State and Government to be held in Brussels in late October, where he will address the problem of maintaining the Treaty in the air. We will have to wait until then for knowing which conclusions are finally reached by European statesmen and governors.
Stop and uncertainty
A long succession of attempts, sometimes failed, sometimes made, but in any case with too many obstacles. What makes these states to remain in the EU and oppose further reforms at the same time?
The answer is complicated, even impossible, since each state has its own complexity and most hiding their impatience under phrases like "I ask that we stop putting artificial obstacles" to the treaty.
He, who thought the Irish ratification went smoothly, cannot get over his surprise seeing that every single day they are speaking four or five times about the famous text and its impact on the work of institutions, that are under a considerable uncertainty.
And it is still working externally: Council of Ministers, new policies and investments, partnerships, etc. But the internal reorganization is not in its best moment. Everything is in the air: the next commissioners, which should start working in late October (in fact, which will not happen) or future Presidency of the EU.
Expectations
Despite this period of uncertainty, expectations are favorable. The European Parliament and its President (Jerzy Buzek), the Commission and its President (Jose Manuel Durao Barroso) and the Council and Member States, are still positive and believe that Klaus would sign and the treaty could be adopted in one month. That probably means a signature on the text.
The forecast is: if the Czech Constitutional Court gives an approval on the 27th of October and if Klaus signs the day after the European Council, on the 29th - 30th October, the Lisbon Treaty could enter into force on 1st January 2010. Date from which Spain, during its EU presidency, will set it in motion.
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