Lisbon Treaty will lead to fundamental change of Czech Republic as a sovereign country

THE EUROPEAN JOURNAL, AUGUST 2008:

This is the finest individual opinion I have heard on the Lisbon Treaty as it passed through Europe - Ed. This is the final conclusion. For the whole report, see the August 2008 edition of the European Journal.

Following an invitation from the Czech Constitutional Court, the President of the Czech Republic, Václav Klaus, delivered an opinion that the Lisbon Treaty will bring about a fundamental change to the legal character of the European Union and the Czech Republic, not only as its Member State, but also as a sovereign country. Therefore, the Constitutional Court is facing an immense responsibility not only with respect to the present, but also the future of the Czech Republic, the 90th anniversary of whose establishment will be commemorated this year.

"As a legal participant in the proceedings before the Constitutional Court regarding the Petition of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic for an assessment of [compliance of] the Lisbon Treaty with the constitutional system, I consider a fundamental and comprehensive assessment of its content and implications by the Constitutional Court an absolutely essential prerequisite for its ratification.

The explanation of the Senate’s petition and the content of my above statement give rise to absolutely evident indications that the Lisbon Treaty constitutes a fundamental change to the Czech constitutional system and the international position of the Czech Republic. I do not consider it possible that such fundamental changes to the international position and internal functioning of the Czech Republic, which the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty will undoubtedly bring about, are made unaware, without being clearly defined and understood and without a political and social consensus on them. The Constitutional Court, as the highest legal authority of our country, is required to provide to the political representation and general public a clear and comprehensive assessment of the Lisbon Treaty in all its respects in such a way that it is possible to adopt a responsible decision on its ratification clearly and with full awareness of its implications.

The Lisbon Treaty brings about a fundamental change to the character of the European Union and the legal status of the Czech Republic not only as its Member State, but also as a sovereign country as such, something that it was until now and still is. Therefore, the Constitutional Court is facing an immense responsibility not only with respect to the present, but also the future of our country, the 90th anniversary of whose establishment we commemorate this year ..."