Tony Blair's EU presidential hopes boosted as Czech leader relents on Lisbon - by Toby Helm
Tony Blair's chances of being appointed the first European Union president within months rose yesterday after the Czech president claimed the Lisbon Treaty had progressed too far "to stop it or turn it around". Vaclav Klaus, the sole EU leader yet to ratify the treaty, stunned the EU this month when he demanded an opt-out clause to shield the Czech Republic from property claims made by ethnic Germans expelled from the country after the second world war. His demands raised concerns that final ratification could require a lengthy new process among all EU members. But on Saturday, Klaus, a staunch eurosceptic, suggested that despite his continued opposition to the treaty, which creates the post of EU president and aims to streamline EU decision-making, it would soon become law across the EU.
The first discussion of candidates for the EU presidency is expected to take place at a Brussels summit of heads of state in two weeks' time. Despite uncertainties over the attitude of Germany's president, Angela Merkel, towards Blair's candidacy, he remains the bookies' favorite.
Note EU-Digest: Let us hope that since the citizen's of the EU at this point are not able to elect a President by popular vote, the Commission at least comes up with a more refreshing candidate than Tony Blair.
No comments:
Post a Comment