Voorzitter EP Jerzy Buzek: ratificatie Verdrag van Lissabon weer een stap dichterbij (en)

European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek has strongly welcomed the decision of the Czech Constitutional Court that the Treaty of Lisbon is in line with the Czech constitutional order.

EP President Jerzy Buzek said: "The final hurdle has now been cleared. The decision clears the way for President Vaclav Klaus to sign and finalise the ratification of the Treaty and I am very confident he will do so. The Treaty of Lisbon should now enter into force by the end of the year. 

The Lisbon Treaty will make the EU more democratic and effective and will help the EU respond to the challenges of climate change, developing a common EU energy policy, restoring economic growth and fighting unemployment. 

When I met President Klaus in October in Prague, I said that I was optimistic that we could find a solution.

The Czechs have secured their opt-out on the Charter of Fundamental Rights, and due legal process has been respected. We now look forward to working on the implementation of the Treaty which greatly enhances the powers of the democratically-elected European Parliament. "