(PRAGUE) - EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said Thursday he was convinced the bloc's 27 member states would ratify the reforming Lisbon Treaty by the end of the year.

"I am in contact with all the governments of Europe. So far the information that I have been given by them is that this will happen and that they are working for it," Barroso said.

"I hope countries still to approve the treaty, including the Czech Republic, will do so as soon as possible," he added during a visit to Prague.

The Lisbon Treaty is aimed at streamlining decision-making, and replaces the EU constitution rejected by French and Dutch voters in referendums in 2005.

The Czech Republic will assume the rotating EU Presidency at the beginning of next year and so, Barroso said, "will be responsible for making the new system work".

"2009 must be a year of results, not just of transition," he added.

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