It is up to France, the forthcoming EU presiding country, to face the consequences of Sarkozy calls for tax cut as fuel protests spread in Europe ...
Czech Prime Minister meets Berlusconi during Italian holiday ...
CzechRep may face trial over recognition of qualifications ...
NBA heading back to London ...
France to boost its Afghan forces ...
Bangladeshi writer 'exiled again' ... the Irish "no." Everyone must be given time.
"Let's not dramatise it or push it forwards," Sarkozy said at a press conference after meeting Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek. "Let give time to European politicians to find a solution," added Topolanek. Sarkozy said the main task is to prevent a crisis and not to allow a trench to be dug between the countries that would ratify the treaty and those that would not. He said he does not want Europe to be stopped by an institutional discussion for the next ten years. "Let give us time but let's not lose time," Sarkozy said. Topolanek reiterated that the current situation could thwart Croatia's EU accession. At a Prague meeting earlier today, the prime ministers of the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary (member states of the Visegrad Four group, V4) agreed to help Croatia in its EU entry talks. Sarkozy attended the afternoon part of the V4 meeting. He emphasised the importance of Central Europe. "Europe needs Central Europe, its youth, dynamism and hopes," he said. EU leaders will discuss the EU's position on the Lisbon treaty after the Irish referendum's "no" at a joint meeting later this week. Topolanek said he would go to the meeting to seek any measures, including interim ones, that would not provoke a crisis. He said he considers the treaty ratification process in the Czech Republic suspended, as the Czech Constitutional Court's (US) assessment of the treaty is being waited for. The US is assessing whether the treaty is in harmony with the Czech constitutional order at the request of the upper house dominated by the Civic Democratic Party (ODS), of which Topolanek is chairman. During Sarkozy's Prague visit today, he and Topolanek also focused on bilateral relations. They signed a declaration and an action plan of Czech-French strategic partnership, a basis for long-term cooperation. Sarkozy and Topolanek also signed an agreement on cooperation of universities and in the area of science. Topolanek praised France's recent announcement that it will open its labour market to EU newcomers as of July 1, almost one year before the originally expected date.
(Ceske Noviny)
more info >>
<< Back