Poles hand Lisbon treaty new setback
Tuesday, 01 Jul 2008 09:00
Lisbon treaty supporters handed bad news by Poland
Reforms of the EU's institutions seem further away than ever after Poland's announcement it does not plan to ratify the Lisbon treaty.
Polish prime minister Lech Kaczynski told the Dziennin newspaper such a move would be "pointless" given the Irish rejection of the treaty in its referendum on the issue last month.
"For the moment, the question of the treaty is pointless," he said.
"If one breaks the rule of unanimity one time, it will never exist again."
EU leaders have agreed to put the Lisbon treaty to one side until October as more member states proceed to ratify it. Many, including Britain, hope further ratifications will place pressure on the Irish in a potential second referendum.
Poland has a history of needing persuading on the Lisbon treaty. Former British prime minister Tony Blair was among a group of senior leaders forced to stay up all night persuading Mr Kaczynski and his colleagues that it was worth signing in the summer of 2006.