Mr. Klaus; the last naughty boy of the EU

Czech President Vaclav Klaus (left) and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev hold a press conference in Barvikha, outside Moscow. Klaus said he would not drop objections to the European Union’s Lisbon reform treaty, despite mounting pressure from EU leaders to sign. (AFP/Natalia Kolesnikova)

Financial crisis testing EU’s foundations, says Stiglitz

Ireland?s slow motion fiscal crisis

There?s a ?normal? path for a fiscal crisis.  Some vulnerabilities build up.  An external shock tips things over the edge.  The country struggles along for a while but eventually refinancing or rollover risk forces the issue: new debt can?t be sold and the Impossible Missions Force is the only available lender.  An ugly but usually effective correction takes place and eventually access to capital markets resumes.  Of course there are exceptions but that?s the broad outline and some 2009 crisis countries may already over the worst.  Then there?s Ireland.

MAIN FOCUS: Prague ready to negotiate over the Treaty of Lisbon | 13/10/2009

Czech refusal and new complaint over EU Lisbon Treaty

I will not sign Lisbon Treaty, says Czech president Vaclav Klaus, according to Times Online.

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Extended legal challenge

Jiri Oberfalzer and 16 other Czech senators, defeated in the democratic arena and already partially in the Czech Constitutional Court, intend to extend their request. The precise comments will be revealed only after the new challenge has been deposited, reports Czech Happenings.

Vaclav Klaus reversing Orwell

Since the EUSSR is a favourite dystopian expression for the European Union among supporters of Czech president Vaclav Klaus, let us take a look through the prism of George Orwell?s ?Animal Farm?.

We already know that during the negotiations leading to the Lisbon Treaty, the United Kingdom and Poland negotiated exemptions from the Charter of fundamental rights of the European Union.

Europe against the death penalty

The Council of Europe and the European Union work to eradicate the death penalty, elsewhere as already in Europe.

As a reminder this Saturday, 10 October 2009, the World Day Against the Death Penalty, the joint statement by these European organisations:

Roundup on Czech constitutional crisis over EU Lisbon Treaty

Here are some news and comments about the Czech constitutional crisis, caused by President Vaclav Klaus? refusal to sign the ratification instrument of the EU?s Treaty of Lisbon.

First a general reference to the copious information about the Lisbon Treaty, including the ratification process, among the 1,300 plus posts on this blog. Look for the latest in the side bar, or use the search function for older entries.

What is to be done about Vaclav Klaus?

The speeches, actions and possible further obstruction by Czech President Vaclav Klaus with regard to the amending Treaty of Lisbon of the European Union give rise to two important questions.

The questions are linked, but one concerns the Czech Republic, the other one the EU and its member states.

The Geert Wilders Road Show is going back to London

Dutch MP Geert Wilders won an appeal lifting his travel ban to the United Kingdom. He was barred from entering the country after British officials deemed him a risk to the public order. Wilders, who wants to ban the Koran, called the reversal a victory for free speech.

Kallas: Commission must reform ‘absurd’ recruitment policy

Bosnia Is Becoming a Failed State

Five numbers that suggest Bosnia is becoming a failed state.