Polish president will not sign Lisbon treaty

Poland's President, Lech Kaczynski, said in a newspaper interview published on 1 July 2008 that he would not sign the Lisbon Treaty because it would be 'pointless' after its rejection in June 2008 by Irish voters in a referendum.

German President Horst Köhler's office also announced on the 30 June 2008 that he would not sign the ratification documents until the Federal Constitutional Court, the country's highest court, ruled on legal challenges to the Treaty of Lisbon.

Czech President Vaclav Klaus and many lawmakers in the Czech Republic are said to also be cool on ratification.

Deutsche Welle, 1.7.08: Polish President Refuses to Ratify EU Treaty http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3451879,00.html

ESO: Background information: Irish voters reject EU treaty http://www.europeansources.info/record/irish-voters-reject-eu-treaty/

Spiegel Online International, 1.7.08: German, Polish Presidents Refuse to Sign EU Reform Treaty http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,563127,00.html

BBC News, 1.7.08: Poland in new blow to EU treaty http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7482660.stm

Polskie Radio: The News.pl, 1.7.08: Government surprised by President's stance on Lisbon http://www.thenews.pl/radio/news/artykul86035_government-surprised-by-presidents-stance-on-lisbon.html

Polskie Radio: The News.pl, 10.7.08: French appeal to Poland to ratify Lisbon Treaty http://www.thenews.pl/radio/chatandserious/artykul86727_french-appeal-to-poland-to-ratify-lisbon-treaty.html

BBC News, 1.7.08: Rocky start to French presidency http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7484240.stm

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