“This was the very, very, very last concession that could be made”. This was Minister Franco Frattini’s comment in Brussels on the opt-out requested by the Czech Republic on the Charter of Rights accompanying the Lisbon Treaty and agreed by the leaders of the 27 member states.
The protocol that was approved “extends to the Czech Republic the same guarantees obtained by Poland and Great Britain”, explained Minister Frattini. “It does not change the Lisbon Treaty and will be adopted with the next accession treaty, which we imagine will be for Croatia”.
“With these guarantees”, he added, “the Czech President, Klaus, will sign”. When? “Just after 3 November, we assume”, he concluded, 3 November being the date when the Czech Constitutional Court is to pronounce on the Treaty.