Brussels - Czech President Vaclav Klaus will sign the European Union's Lisbon treaty in the end, the only question being when, Czech premier Jan Fischer said Wednesday. "There is no reason for anxiety in Europe. In the Czech Republic, the question is not yes or no, it is when," Fischer told journalists in Brussels and Prague.
The Eurosceptic 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. The document is currently being reviewed by the Czech constitutional court.
Once the court's work is done, "from all the signals I have at my disposal, I analyse that there will be no reason for the president to delay his signature," Fischer said.
Fischer was talking after a video conference with the leaders of the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Swedish government, which currently holds the EU's rotating presidency. He had been set to come to Brussels in person but was stranded in Prague by aircraft problems.
Analysts see Wednesday's meeting as an attempt to put indirect pressure on Klaus by enlisting domestic Czech support for the treaty.
Commission President Barroso said that once the Czech court has dealt with the treaty, "I see no reason why further delays should happen" in the country.
