Berlin - Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday she was optimistic the controversial EU Lisbon Treaty would clear its final hurdle before Germany goes to the polls at the end of September. Germany's highest court earlier said the reform treaty was compatible with German law- but demanded changes to domestic legislation before it could formally be ratified.
Speaking after the court's decision, Merkel said ratification of the treaty was not in danger. "It is a good day for the Lisbon Treaty," she said.
The chancellor said she was happy that parliament had agreed to meet in August to amend the laws implementing the treaty. The constitutional court demanded such a revision in order to ensure parliament maintained a key role in matters of national sovereignty.
German opponents of the reform treaty challenged it in the nation's constitutional court, arguing the document undermined German sovereignty.
Both houses of the German parliament have endorsed the treaty, which was agreed by EU leaders in December 2007, but President Horst Koehler withheld his signature pending the decision by the constitutional court.
The German lower house or Bundestag is to meet in August on a law giving parliament more powers in matters related to EU affairs.
A second reading of the bill is scheduled for September 8, less than three weeks before the September 27 general election.
All 27 members of the EU have to ratify the treaty before it can come into force at the beginning of 2010.
The biggest hurdle is likely to be a second public referendum on the treaty in Ireland, after voters there rejected it in June 2008.
