Jean-Claude Juncker is considered a strong contender for the post of EU president [AFP]

During talks in Brussels on Thursday, leaders approved a proposal to satisfy a demand by Vaclav Klaus, the Czech president, in an effort to persuade his country to ratify the treaty.

"The road to ratification stands open," Fredrik Reinfeldt, the Swedish prime minister, said. Sweden currently holds the EU's rotating presidency.

The Czech Republic is the only one of the 27 EU nations that has not yet ratified the treaty.

Klaus sought an opt-out from the treaty three weeks ago, after Prague's parliament ratified it, in an attempt to ensure the treaty would not allow ethnic Germans expelled from former Czechoslovakia after the second world war to reclaim their property.

The only obstacle to the Klaus's signature now is a legal challenge by Czech senators, which the country's constitutional court is expected to dismiss on Tuesday.

Presidential race

EU leaders also moved closer to an agreement on a new president, with former British prime minister Tony Blair's chances of securing the role receding.

Blair's hopes faded when his candidacy failed to secure the blessings of European socialists, who are his ruling Labour Party's allies.

The post is now more likely to go to a centre-right candidate, with possible contenders including Jan Peter Balkenende, the Dutch prime minister, and Paavo Lipponen, the former Finnish prime minister.

The president, who needs to be elected unanimously, will serve a two-and-a-half-year term, strengthening the current system of a six-month presidency that states hold in turn.

Ratification of the treaty after years of negotiations would encourage the EU in its hopes of increasing its influence on the world stage.

It would also streamline decision-making in the bloc, which is unwieldy now that it has grown to 27 member states representing 495 million people.

Recommend this article...

Did you enjoy this article? Please bookmark it onto:

Be first to comment this article

Write Comment

Please keep the topic of messages relevant to the subject of the article. Personal verbal attacks will be deleted. Please don't use comments to plug your web site. Such material will be removed. Just ensure to *Refresh* your browser for a new security code to be displayed prior to clicking on the 'Send' button. Keep in mind that the above process only applies if you simply entered the wrong security code.
Name:
E-mail
Homepage
Title:
BBCode:
Comment:
Code:*
	I wish to be contacted by email regarding additional comments

Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.4