Lisbon Treaty finally ratified

The Lisbon Treaty was ratified yesterday when the Czech Republic completed the process nearly 23 months after the reform document was signed by EU heads of state and of government.

The last legal and political obstacles fell yesterday, first with a ruling by the Czech Constitutional Court in the morning that the treaty is compatible with the Czech Constitution and then the signature by Czech President Václav Klaus in the afternoon.

Welcoming this development, the Swedish Presidency of the EU declared that the Treaty would now enter into force on December 1 and called upon the member states, particularly those, like Malta, who have not yet nominated a commissioner to serve in the new term to do so without delay.

Swedish Prime Minister Fredrick Reinfeldt said he would shortly be convening a summit for EU leaders to discuss names for the new Commission, the EU President and the foreign affairs chief.

The European Parliament, which will have to hold hearings for each newly-appointed commissioner, said it was ready to start such hearings on November 25.

These latest moves have now increased the pressure on Malta to nominate its new commissioner, with the announcement expected to be made in the coming days. Malta is one of a small number of member states still without a nomination.

Dr Gonzi's list of possible candidates consists of incumbent Commissioner Joe Borg, considered to be the first choice, Social Policy Minister John Dalli and Malta's Permanent Representative to the EU, Richard Cachia Caruana.

The extraordinary EU summit is expected to be held on November 12 or 19, by which date the new Commission is expected to be announced including the new portfolios to be assigned by Commission President José Manuel Barroso.

Meanwhile, Britain's Conservative Party yesterday abandoned plans for a European referendum after the Czech President signed the Lisbon Treaty.

Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said it was "no longer possible" to put the treaty to a popular vote of the British people.

"Now that the treaty is going to become European law and is going to enter into force, that means a referendum can no longer prevent the creation of the President of the European Council, the loss of British national vetoes," he said.