(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Public opinion is turning against the Lisbon Treaty in the Czech Republic, according to a poll by STEM. 53 per cent of respondents do not want the Czech Parliament to ratify the new common accord for European Union (EU) member states.

Since April, opposition to the Lisbon Treaty has increased by six points.

EU heads of state officially signed the European Constitution on Oct. 29, 2004. The project for a continental body of law was practically abandoned in 2005, after voters in France and the Netherlands rejected the proposed document in two plebiscites.

In October 2007, leaders of the 27 EU member nations reached an agreement on the Lisbon Treaty and Charter of Fundamental Rights. The Lisbon Treaty provisions call for the creation of new posts, such as a foreign policy chief, and a High Representative who will answer to EU governments and serve as vice-president of the European Commission. The Charter will become legally binding in all EU member states except Britain, which negotiated an exemption.

The EU leaders would also choose a president of the European Council for a two and a half year renewable term. This will effectively eliminate the current six-month rotating presidency among member nations. The Lisbon Treaty also provides for the creation of a mutual defence clause, in case one of the member states is attacked.

If all countries ratify the treaty—whether through a referendum or a parliamentary vote—it will become effective in January 2009. Ireland, due to its internal regulations, is the only country that must hold a nationwide vote on the Lisbon Treaty, while other governments can decide whether they want to do the same.

On Jun. 12, 53.4 per cent of Irish voters rejected the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty.

The Czech Parliament has passed the Lisbon Treaty in first reading, and is expected to fully ratify the agreement before the end of the year. The opposition Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM) has urged the government—which brings together the Civic Democratic Party (ODS), the Green Party (SZ), and the Christian and Democratic Union - Czech People’s Party (KDU-CSL)—to hold a nationwide referendum in order to endorse the document. The other opposition party in the Chamber of Deputies—the Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD)—supports the Lisbon Treaty.

Czech president Vaclav Klaus—a member of the ODS—is against ratifying the Lisbon Treaty.

On Jul. 16, deputy prime minister and Green leader Martin Bursik urged Czech prime minister Mirek Topolanek to adopt the Lisbon Treaty by the end of 2008, just before the Czech Republic assumes the EU’s rotating presidency, adding, "We must cope with our [EU] presidency since we represent the Czech Republic as such. (...) We must show that the Czech Republic is part of Europe. The Czech Republic must prove that we are able to lead a European dialogue and seek solutions."

Polling Data

Do you believe that the Czech parliament should ratify the Lisbon Treaty?

Source: STEM
Methodology: Interviews with 1,207 Czech voters, conducted from Jun. 1 to Jun. 9, 2008. Margin of error is 2.5 per cent.

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