"The decision taken by the Constitutional Court of Brno puts an end to the non-ratification of the Lisbon Treaty in the Czech Republic". Hans-Gert Poettering, president of the European Parliament, gives a positive opinion of the decision taken by the High Court that "opens the way to the vote of the Two Houses of the Czech Parliament". Apart from Ireland, that rejected the Treaty through a referendum last Spring, the Eastern Republic is now the only EU member state not to have given the go-ahead yet to the agreement signed in the Portuguese capital last year. This twenty-sixth "yes" "is even more important adds Poettering since the Czech Republic will take over the presidency of the EU Council on January 1st 2009". "The European Parliament he highlights has no doubts that the new presidency will work hard to make the ratification process move on" through its vote and by developing a plan for Ireland’s approval. "The Lisbon Treaty concludes Poettering will provide the tools it takes to face the challenges Europe will have to face in future. I hope the Treaty may be enforced as soon as possible, ideally before the European elections of June 2009". ” “
