EU Treaty Clears a Hurdle On Czech Republic Approval

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Source: WSJ

BRUSSELS -- The European Union on Wednesday came a step closer to adopting a treaty aimed at strengthening the bloc, after the Senate of the Czech Republic voted to ratify it.

The Lisbon Treaty is a stripped-down version of the EU's first, failed attempt to adopt a constitution. If ratified by all 27 EU states, the treaty would for the first time create an appointed EU president, who would serve a maximum of one five-year term. It would also give the bloc stronger foreign-policy tools, and make it easier to pass new EU legislation in some areas.

Opponents such as Czech President Vaclav Klaus -- whose signature is still needed to complete the Czech ratification -- say the treaty embodies the EU's democratic failings and would enable its centralized institutions to seize more powers from national governments.

Most EU countries have ratified the treaty; the only significant holdout is Ireland. Irish voters rejected the document in a referendum last year. The Irish government has said it will hold another referendum by November.

Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124165001850293437.html

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Any ideas as to how the current economic debacle will affect the Irish vote when it comes up again?

[Vidar]

1. I hope this is a good thing. I see hope for humanity in Europe & Latin America.

Very little in the US.