MaltaMedia.com

Czech President Vaclav Klaus signed the European Union’s Lisbon Treaty on Tuesday afternoon as the last hurdle has finally been overcome when the Czech Constitutional Court rejected a complaint against the treaty, ruling that it was in line with the Czech constitution.

The treaty had to be ratified by all 27 EU members before it could come into force. This could now be possible as early as December. Among the treaty’s measures, it creates a European Council president and alters the way member states vote. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said that he hoped the EU could move “as quickly as possible” to make appointments to the new posts.

The Nationalist Party welcomed the approval of the treaty by all EU countries saying that now Malta would get its sixth seat in the European Parliament. This would strengthen Malta’s representation in the EP and in committees which focused on important sectors for the country. The treaty also meant that there was to be a commissioner for all member states and that decisions would be taken quicker and more effectively.

The Labour Party said the signing of the treaty should now bring an end to a period of uncertainty in the European Union and that all members states and European institutions should focus more on the Union’s economic, environmental and social problems.

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