Poland signs up to the Lisbon treaty

Sat Oct 10 2009 16:16:02

Poland has signed up to the Lisbon treaty - leaving just the Czech Republic to rafity the agreement before it can become law.

The Polish President, Lech Kczynski, had to use a second pen when the first didn't work at an official signing ceremony in Warsaw, witnessed by EU officials.

Meanwhile his Czech counterpart has clarified what he wants before signing the Lisbon Treaty - a UK style "opt-out" from the Charter of Fundamental Rights.

The Charter sets out citizens' existing basic social rights and became legally-binding once it was part of the Treaty.

Concerned about the implications for sovereignty over social policy, both the UK and Poland insisted on inclusion of a Treaty "protocol" making plain that nothing in the Charter creates new rights.

Now Vaclav Klaus wants the same treatment, risking a major last-minute rift over the Treaty.

Mr Klaus says all he wants is a simple "footnote" in the Treaty reflecting his concerns - but in Brussels officials made clear it was not that simple.

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