Austria welcomes Czech assembly's treaty ratification

(BRUSSELS) - Austrian Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger on Wednesday welcomed the Czech senate's approval of the EU's reforming Lisbon Treaty, saying it was a "good decision for Europe."

"The Czech senate did not make its job easy with this decree on the Lisbon Treaty," he said in a statement.

"Today's vote is a very encouraging signal from the Czech Republic. With this, the reform treaty is one big step closer to coming into effect."

The treaty must now be signed by staunchly eurosceptic Czech President Vaclav Klaus to complete the ratification process.

Klaus has suggested he will delay ratification for as long as possible, following the example of Polish counterpart Lech Kaczynski, who is also reluctant to sign despite the treaty's endorsement by the Polish parliament.

But Spindelegger said, "The treaty is still on track.

"I am confident that we can stick to the EU reform timetable and that the treaty will come into force by the end of the year."

After the Czech Republic attention will turn to Ireland, where the treaty is likely to be put to a second referendum by November, following its shock rejection by voters there last year.

"The result of today's vote in the Czech senate is also an important signal for the ratification (of the treaty) in Ireland," said Spindelegger.

Germany's parliament has approved the text, aimed at improving the way the EU operates as it grows in number, but its ratification has been stalled by a law suit brought before the country's top court.

The treaty must be ratified by all 27 EU member nations to take effect.