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Should the Czech Republic approve the Lisbon Treaty?
The Czech Constitutional Court has adjourned until next week a hearing into what could be the last legal challenge to the ratification of the EU's Lisbon Treaty. Should the Czechs approve the treaty?
The court had been hearing a complaint by 17 senators, who say the reform treaty infringes Czech sovereignty. It will now reconvene on 3 November.
The treaty - which aims to streamline EU institutions - cannot take effect unless all 27 member states back it.
Are you in the Czech Republic? Do you support the treaty or do you think it infringes Czech sovereignty? Are the Czechs right to stall on their decision? Does the European Union need the treaty?
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Published:
Tuesday, 27 October, 2009, 10:50 GMT
10:50 UK
All comments as they come in
Added:
Thursday, 29 October, 2009, 15:38 GMT
15:38 UK
To Rui Malta: Do not comment on czech political system please unless you do it correctly: both the chambers of the czech parliament are voted on a direct basis, only the procedure differs. The Presidents opinion has been very stable towards European Union. And what gives him the right? The Constitution of the CR and the rules of EU itself.
Silva, Prague
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Added:
Thursday, 29 October, 2009, 15:18 GMT
15:18 UK
Posing this question to the world is inappropriate. My opinion does not matter, nor do the opinions of the UK, France, Italy or even the EU at large. This is a Czech issue, it is for them to decide.
Quillan Stone
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Added:
Thursday, 29 October, 2009, 15:16 GMT
15:16 UK
In the 60's when we first applied to join the Common Market, I was working for a British Electronic company all over Europe. In the then Common market countries, the business men and government officials were rubbing there hands with glee. " when Great Britain joins the common Market, economically we will bleed you dry" And, haven't they done just so with the convenience of our parliamentarians. Our only friend at that time was Charles Degaulle, who manage to keep us free for a few more years..
feral child, elgin
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Added:
Thursday, 29 October, 2009, 15:16 GMT
15:16 UK
The Lisbon Treaty will herald the end of all sense of national identity and the millennia of heritage that countries such as the UK have fought tooth and nail to uphold and advance. It will mean politicians from far-flung corners of Europe will dictate how we in the UK live our lives. The EU should be a trading bloc - nothing more!
Rahman Hassan, Manchester
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Added:
Thursday, 29 October, 2009, 15:14 GMT
15:14 UK
The Chezs should not sign the treaty because the head of the EU is /will be Tony Blair who has serious issues with his ethics and morals and who cannot be trusted. Chezs should remember Neville Chamberlain and his famous"peace in our time rubbish".
allen finlay, australia
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Added:
Thursday, 29 October, 2009, 15:09 GMT
15:09 UK
All 27 of the EU democratically elected parliaments have voted for this treaty. Are you questioning the legitimacy of all these parliaments and the voters that elected them? Aren't they exercising the sovereign powers given them by the voters in passing this treaty? Domingos Mascarenhas, Italy =========
I did not vote for the present government, & I most certainly question why it refuses to let the British public vote on this issue - that should raise a red flag in everyones minds.
Marie-Anne Knight, London, United Kingdom
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Added:
Thursday, 29 October, 2009, 15:05 GMT
15:05 UK
"If only the Brits had the bottle to leave the EU and not just keep on whingeing about it. - ted rooking "
They might do if they had a chance to vote on it !
I'm British living & working in Spain. In common with many, I don't mind close economic ties - I'd even go into the Euro. But this is a rehashed constitution. It should be clear, and easily read. So I fundamentally oppose it.
The European Parliament is toothless and you cannot vote for the people with the power. This is not democracy.
John Crisp, Valencia, Spain
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Added:
Thursday, 29 October, 2009, 15:00 GMT
15:00 UK
I am fed up with being told I have not idea what the treaty is about just because I am totally against it.
Jeff, London
Jeff, I couldn't agree more. But if you notice, that is now the main argument from the europhiles - that anyone who is against this constitution (because let's be honest, we all know that is what this thing is) simply haven't read it or don't understand it. In fact I suspect it is the people who HAVE read the thing who are against it - because we have read it!!
Election Please, Hampshire, United Kingdom
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Added:
Thursday, 29 October, 2009, 14:52 GMT
14:52 UK
For the love of democracy, NO!
Think Ireland forced voting. Think Labour lies and broken promises. Think Tony Blair as the most powerful man in UK again for forseeable future doing more socialist damage.
I salute the Czech Republic holding out on this one.
Uwinsum Uloosum, Awaiting moderation, Unpublished, Rejected
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Added:
Thursday, 29 October, 2009, 14:36 GMT
14:36 UK
The Lisbon Treaty is criminal and is only concerned about taking away even more citizen's rights and fully develop a surveillance society and give ultimate power to multinational corportaions who want their employees to work as much as possible for as little pay as possible with no insurance cover whatsoever.This is the truth of the Lisbon Treaty.If there was true democracy, then people would vote specifically for this across the EU and everybody would have voted no.!
Joao, Lisbon
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Added:
Thursday, 29 October, 2009, 14:28 GMT
14:28 UK
I like Europe (the continent), I even like the Euro... it brings along a lot of benefits.
I do NOT like however, the current EU and the direction in which politicians want to take us...
Politicians at home are already difficult enough to get through to and exercise any form of democratic control over decisions. A "united states of europe" is a dreaded nightmare of mine.
Forget any form of democratic control after that happens. Even now the EU encroaches too much on national independence!
Martijn, Leiden, Holland
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Added:
Thursday, 29 October, 2009, 14:24 GMT
14:24 UK
I live in Czech Republic. After reading comments here I have to say that most of them missing point.
a) Czech Republics parliament and senate approved Lisbon Treaty. Most of people are for Lisbon Treaty too. The only obstacle of it is our pathetic president and few senators.
b) Europe has to integrate somehow as soon as possible to compete with USA and China on global scale. It is simply a must. Lisbon Treaty is far from ideal, but it is step in right direction.
Karel
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Added:
Thursday, 29 October, 2009, 14:24 GMT
14:24 UK
Clearly I'm unpatriotic because I'm British yet I support the treaty and membership of the EU. The key point in the treaty is that it will allow reform - which is not currently allowed under the current EU charter. If we want a more accountable EU then the treaty must pass.
[BewilderedMark]
Glad you identified your short coming. You cant be patriotic and give away your country for good or bad. EU is not accountable as we didnt vote to join the EU. We have no say
wayne, lancashire
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Added:
Thursday, 29 October, 2009, 14:23 GMT
14:23 UK
No, they shoudn't sign it. They are the cleverest country in Europe.
Ondra, Monifieth
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Added:
Thursday, 29 October, 2009, 14:21 GMT
14:21 UK
Rui Malta, you are wrong. The Czech senators are elected directly by people. When talking about democracy and voice of people in EU: Ireland is nice example :)
Jerry, Prague
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This Have Your Say is
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DEBATE STATUS
Total comments: 1379
Published comments: 1198
Rejected comments: 181
From Have Your Say
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