By Piotr Maciej Kaczy?ski
The Czech position in Brussels has been heavily undermined. This is mainly the result of two developments: the perceived failure of the Czech presidency of the European Union in the first half of the year, and the country’s equivocating position on ratifying the Lisbon Treaty.
The bad reputation the Czech Republic has acquired in the EU damages not only its image but its ability to put forward new proposals. Even if this compromised position has not thus far brought any negative policy consequences for the country, that possibility cannot be excluded should the situation continue to deteriorate.
Earlier this month, President Václav Klaus reminded everybody he objected to the Charter of Fundamental Rights, and therefore wanted a “footnote” to be added to the document. It gave the debate on Lisbon ratification yet another twist. This time, however, there was no unified position, and it was impossible to say whether Klaus’ move should be understood as a step toward or away from Czech ratification.
The first argument goes – and this was seconded by an interview Klaus gave to Lidové noviny – that the president is no longer in a position to stop the Lisbon Treaty from entering into force, and is looking for an exit strategy to save face. The second line of thinking is much more suspicious, and is based on previous statements made by the president and his team on this and other issues (such as climate change). According to this view, Klaus is looking for any excuse to delay the process until elections are held in the United Kingdom, resulting in a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty in which it would be voted down. Then the issue of Czech ratification would be irrelevant; someone else would derail the document, and it would never enter into force.