(PRAGUE) - Opposition to the European Union's Lisbon Treaty has hardened in the Czech Republic with a majority now saying it should not be ratified by parliament, according to a poll released Friday.

The survey, conducted in June by the STEM polling agency, found 53 percent of Czechs opposed to the treaty, with 47 percent in favour. A similar survey in April found 53 percent favoured the treaty's ratification.

Awareness of what the treaty means has not changed significantly.

Only 23 percent of the 1,244 respondents said they knew what changes the treaty would bring, 43 percent said they had no clear idea and 34 percent admitted they did not have the faintest idea about it.

The Lisbon Treaty, a crucial reform package for the 27-member bloc, must gain the unanimous approval of the EU's member states to take effect. It was rejected by Irish voters in a June 12 referendum.

The centre-right Czech government has decided to wait for a constitutional court decision before taking any position, while the head of state, President Vaclav Klaus, has described it as finished and is lobbying hard for parliament to scupper ratification.

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