While Britain will be a huge beneficiary if Czech President
Vaclav Klaus delays ratification of the Lisbon Treaty and allows
for a UK referendum, Klaus’s defiant stance is one driven by care
for the Czech Republic whose best interests he does and should
have at heart.
David Cameron, leader of the British Conservative Party —
tipped by the polls to become Britain’s next Prime Minister by
next June at the latest — has pledged to hold a referendum on
the Lisbon Treaty if it is not ratified before the next UK
general election. President Klaus has practically taken on
mythical status among British EU-skeptics since a referendum on
Lisbon is a sure-fire way to kick-start the renegotiation of
Britain’s unsatisfactory relationship with the European
Union.
However, the threats and pressure being leveled against
President Klaus by Brussels’ elites serve to remind him exactly
why he is holding out for firm guarantees on Czech interests
before ratifying. First of all French President Nicolas Sarkozy
threatened Prague
with unidentified but serious consequences of delaying
ratification. Now, newly-reelected Commission President, Jose
Manuel Barroso
has threatened to cull the Czech’s Commissioner (note that
Barroso waited until after he secured Czech support for his
reelection). In the absence of legally binding written
guarantees, President Klaus should not trust vague assurances
from people who clearly care nothing for the national interest of
the Czech Republic.
As a matter of principle, safeguarding his nation’s
interests is nothing less than President Klaus’s constitutional
duty. And his concerns over the radical Charter of Fundamental
Rights is valid. More a charter for fundamental socialism, it
legalizes the right of collective bargaining and action among
other questionable ‘rights.’ Klaus’s concerns over the impact of
property claims by ethnic Germans forced out of the Czech Sudeten
region after World War II are equally valid. Until he can be
confident that the Lisbon Treaty serves Prague’s interest, there
is no reason to rush ratification.
The EU started negotiating the EU Constitution/Lisbon
Treaty in 2001 following the Laeken summit. Without a
constitution, the EU has managed two rounds of expansion, two
Euro-wide parliamentary elections and nearly two dozen EU
security and defense missions (not to mention three resounding
rejections of further European integration in referenda). There
is absolutely no legitimate reason that President Klaus cannot
wait a few more months to satisfy Czech interests. And with the
highest approval ratings of all Czech politicians, he has the
added bonus of popularity as well as principle on his
side.
