Brussels - Top European Union officials were set to put the pressure on the Czech Republic to sign the bloc's stalled Lisbon Treaty on Wednesday, as they prepared to meet Czech premier Jan Fischer in Brussels. Eurosceptic Czech President Vaclav Klaus has not yet signed the treaty, which is meant to streamline the EU, even though both houses of the Czech parliament have approved it.
In the wake of last weekend's "yes" vote in the Irish referendum on the treaty, the EU is keen to bring it into force by the end of the year - something it can only do once Klaus has signed.
Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, whose country currently holds the bloc's rotating presidency, called the meeting to "discuss the situation and see what actions can be taken to move the situation forward."
In a highly unusual move, Reinfeldt suggested that he and Fischer both travel to Brussels to discuss the situation with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.
According to diplomatic sources, the suggestion came after days of pressure from EU heavyweight France to call a full EU summit on the ratification issue.
Analysts see Wednesday's meeting as an attempt to put indirect pressure on Klaus by enlisting domestic Czech support for the treaty.
On Saturday, Barroso said that he had also discussed the Lisbon issue with the leaders of the Czech Republic's two biggest political parties, Mirek Topolanek and Jiri Paroubek.
Klaus has maintained a studied silence on his intentions. The Czech constitutional court is currently reviewing a legal challenge to the treaty, and has forbidden him to sign until the process is complete.
In an interview with French daily Le Monde on Tuesday, Reinfeldt said that he had tried to call Klaus to discuss the issue, but had not managed to reach him.
Poland's President Lech Kaczynski has also not yet signed the treaty. However, before the Irish vote he confirmed that he would do so if Ireland voted "Yes".
