PRAGUE — The Czech president, Vaclav Klaus , signed the landmark Lisbon Treaty on Tuesday, making his country the last of the 27 European Union countries to approve it and allowing its unifying, strengthening measures to go into force shortly acr
Fredrik Reinfeldt, prime minister of Sweden, which holds the current European presidency, which rotates among member countries, welcomed the treaty’s final approval.
Fredrik Reinfeldt, prime minister of Sweden, which holds the current European presidency, which rotates among member countries, welcomed the treaty’s final approval.
difficult to use or handle or manage because of size or weight or shape
It seeks to make an increasingly unwieldy bloc more workable by putting in place a new voting system, which reflects countries’ population size, while reducing the number of areas where one country alone can block a proposal.
make clear by removing impurities or solids, as by heating
Meanwhile, the Conservative opposition leader in Britain, David Cameron , is expected to clarify Wednesday what his policy will be if he is elected next year and the Lisbon Treaty is already in force.
PRAGUE — The Czech president, Vaclav Klaus , signed the landmark Lisbon Treaty on Tuesday, making his country the last of the 27 European Union countries to approve it and allowing its unifying, strengthening measures to go into force shortly across the bloc of half a billion people.
He had previously warned that the treaty would undermine Czech national interests and had refused to sign it, despite the endorsement of both houses of the Czech Parliament.
Mr. Cameron, who is ahead in the opinion polls, had promised a referendum on the accord but has not specified what he would do if he becomes prime minister when the treaty is already in place.
the position of a prominent or well-known object in a particular landscape
PRAGUE — The Czech president, Vaclav Klaus , signed the landmark Lisbon Treaty on Tuesday, making his country the last of the 27 European Union countries to approve it and allowing its unifying, strengthening measures to go into force shortly across the bloc of half a billion people.
“I am very please President Klaus today has signed the Lisbon Treaty,� he said in a statement, adding that the signature marks the end of a period which has lasted “far too long� in which the bloc had focused on reforming its internal workings.
fail to agree with; be in violation of; as of rules or patterns
The Constitutional Court was asked to rule by a group of 17 senators loyal to Mr. Klaus on whether the treaty violated the Czech Republic’s Constitution.
In many respects the treaty is a scaled down version of the draft European Union constitution, which took years to negotiate but was rejected by voters in France and the Netherlands in 2005, plunging the bloc into a political crisis.
existing as an essential constituent or characteristic
Making little effort to hide his contempt for the treaty, Mr. Klaus said Tuesday that he had decided to sign out of respect for the decision of the country’s Constitutional Court, but that he could not “agree with its contents, because once the Lisbon Treaty will come into effect the Czech Republic will cease to be a sovereign state.�
Mr. Cameron, who is ahead in the opinion polls, had promised a referendum on the accord but has not specified what he would do if he becomes prime minister when the treaty is already in place.
In many respects the treaty is a scaled down version of the draft European Union constitution, which took years to negotiate but was rejected by voters in France and the Netherlands in 2005, plunging the bloc into a political crisis.
The Constitutional Court was asked to rule by a group of 17 senators loyal to Mr. Klaus on whether the treaty violated the Czech Republic’s Constitution.
of extreme importance; vital to the resolution of a crisis
They said another crucial element in his decision was that European leaders agreed to his last-minute demand to give the Czech Republic an effective exemption from the treaty’s Charter of Fundamental Rights, which he had argued could lead to a flood of property claims by Germans expelled from the country after World War II.
Because of the Czech delays, European leaders have been unable to settle on who would be president and foreign affairs chief.
The treaty, which may go into effect as early as Dec. 1, creates a permanent presidential post and sets up a more powerful foreign policy chief supported by a network of diplomats around the world.
In many respects the treaty is a scaled down version of the draft European Union constitution, which took years to negotiate but was rejected by voters in France and the Netherlands in 2005, plunging the bloc into a political crisis.
They said another crucial element in his decision was that European leaders agreed to his last-minute demand to give the Czech Republic an effective exemption from the treaty’s Charter of Fundamental Rights, which he had argued could lead to a flood of property claims by Germans expelled from the country after World War II.
Because of the Czech delays, European leaders have been unable to settle on who would be president and foreign affairs chief.
Some leaders, including President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, insisted there could be no significant further enlargement of the European Union without the Lisbon Treaty in effect.
In many respects the treaty is a scaled down version of the draft European Union constitution, which took years to negotiate but was rejected by voters in France and the Netherlands in 2005, plunging the bloc into a political crisis.
a plan of action adopted by an individual or social group
The treaty, which may go into effect as early as Dec. 1, creates a permanent presidential post and sets up a more powerful foreign policy chief supported by a network of diplomats around the world.
“The treaty will allow effective European action in areas where solutions are urgent, such as the financial and economic crisis, climate change and energy,� he said.
The rulebook the treaty replaces was out of date, created before the bloc began to expand broadly across Europe; it has taken in 12 new nations since 2004.
PRAGUE — The Czech president, Vaclav Klaus , signed the landmark Lisbon Treaty on Tuesday, making his country the last of the 27 European Union countries to approve it and allowing its unifying, strengthening measures to go into force shortly across the bloc of half a billion people.
Unofficial discussions in Brussels last week indicated that the prospect of the presidential job going to Tony Blair , the former British prime minister once considered a front runner, had faded.
the extent of a 2-dimensional surface enclosed within a boundary
It seeks to make an increasingly unwieldy bloc more workable by putting in place a new voting system, which reflects countries’ population size, while reducing the number of areas where one country alone can block a proposal.
any factor that could be considered important to the understanding of a particular business
They said another crucial element in his decision was that European leaders agreed to his last-minute demand to give the Czech Republic an effective exemption from the treaty’s Charter of Fundamental Rights, which he had argued could lead to a flood of property claims by Germans expelled from the country after World War II.
Because of the Czech delays, European leaders have been unable to settle on who would be president and foreign affairs chief.
the concentration of attention or energy on something
“I am very please President Klaus today has signed the Lisbon Treaty,� he said in a statement, adding that the signature marks the end of a period which has lasted “far too long� in which the bloc had focused on reforming its internal workings.
something immaterial that stands in the way and must be circumvented or surmounted
Because of the huge political obstacles that the Lisbon Treaty has had to overcome, most analysts believe it will be the last attempt to overhaul the European Union’s ground rules for many years to come.
It seeks to make an increasingly unwieldy bloc more workable by putting in place a new voting system, which reflects countries’ population size, while reducing the number of areas where one country alone can block a proposal.
a current of air (usually coming into a chimney or room or vehicle)
In many respects the treaty is a scaled down version of the draft European Union constitution, which took years to negotiate but was rejected by voters in France and the Netherlands in 2005, plunging the bloc into a political crisis.
Some leaders, including President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, insisted there could be no significant further enlargement of the European Union without the Lisbon Treaty in effect.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
The treaty, which may go into effect as early as Dec. 1, creates a permanent presidential post and sets up a more powerful foreign policy chief supported by a network of diplomats around the world.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
The rulebook the treaty replaces was out of date, created before the bloc began to expand broadly across Europe; it has taken in 12 new nations since 2004.
The rulebook the treaty replaces was out of date, created before the bloc began to expand broadly across Europe; it has taken in 12 new nations since 2004.
“I am very please President Klaus today has signed the Lisbon Treaty,� he said in a statement, adding that the signature marks the end of a period which has lasted “far too long� in which the bloc had focused on reforming its internal workings.
the weather in some location averaged over some long period of time
“The treaty will allow effective European action in areas where solutions are urgent, such as the financial and economic crisis, climate change and energy,� he said.
an open fabric of string or rope or wire woven together at regular intervals
The treaty, which may go into effect as early as Dec. 1, creates a permanent presidential post and sets up a more powerful foreign policy chief supported by a network of diplomats around the world.
lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
Making little effort to hide his contempt for the treaty, Mr. Klaus said Tuesday that he had decided to sign out of respect for the decision of the country’s Constitutional Court, but that he could not “agree with its contents, because once the Lisbon Treaty will come into effect the Czech Republic will cease to be a sovereign state.�
continuing or enduring without marked change in status or condition or place
The treaty, which may go into effect as early as Dec. 1, creates a permanent presidential post and sets up a more powerful foreign policy chief supported by a network of diplomats around the world.
Making little effort to hide his contempt for the treaty, Mr. Klaus said Tuesday that he had decided to sign out of respect for the decision of the country’s Constitutional Court, but that he could not “agree with its contents, because once the Lisbon Treaty will come into effect the Czech Republic will cease to be a sovereign state.�
something a little different from others of the same type
In many respects the treaty is a scaled down version of the draft European Union constitution, which took years to negotiate but was rejected by voters in France and the Netherlands in 2005, plunging the bloc into a political crisis.
They said another crucial element in his decision was that European leaders agreed to his last-minute demand to give the Czech Republic an effective exemption from the treaty’s Charter of Fundamental Rights, which he had argued could lead to a flood of property claims by Germans expelled from the country after World War II.
Because of the Czech delays, European leaders have been unable to settle on who would be president and foreign affairs chief.
a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances; frequently (but not necessarily) a liquid solution
“The treaty will allow effective European action in areas where solutions are urgent, such as the financial and economic crisis, climate change and energy,� he said.
Though Ireland originally rejected the accord in 2008, it passed in a second vote last month, opening the way for the remaining nations to complete ratification.
“The treaty will allow effective European action in areas where solutions are urgent, such as the financial and economic crisis, climate change and energy,� he said.
In many respects the treaty is a scaled down version of the draft European Union constitution, which took years to negotiate but was rejected by voters in France and the Netherlands in 2005, plunging the bloc into a political crisis.
Making little effort to hide his contempt for the treaty, Mr. Klaus said Tuesday that he had decided to sign out of respect for the decision of the country’s Constitutional Court, but that he could not “agree with its contents, because once the Lisbon Treaty will come into effect the Czech Republic will cease to be a sovereign state.�
the rising of a body of water and its overflowing onto normally dry land
They said another crucial element in his decision was that European leaders agreed to his last-minute demand to give the Czech Republic an effective exemption from the treaty’s Charter of Fundamental Rights, which he had argued could lead to a flood of property claims by Germans expelled from the country after World War II.
Because of the Czech delays, European leaders have been unable to settle on who would be president and foreign affairs chief.
a nation's ruler or head of state usually by hereditary right
Making little effort to hide his contempt for the treaty, Mr. Klaus said Tuesday that he had decided to sign out of respect for the decision of the country’s Constitutional Court, but that he could not “agree with its contents, because once the Lisbon Treaty will come into effect the Czech Republic will cease to be a sovereign state.�
In many respects the treaty is a scaled down version of the draft European Union constitution, which took years to negotiate but was rejected by voters in France and the Netherlands in 2005, plunging the bloc into a political crisis.
He had previously warned that the treaty would undermine Czech national interests and had refused to sign it, despite the endorsement of both houses of the Czech Parliament.
It seeks to make an increasingly unwieldy bloc more workable by putting in place a new voting system, which reflects countries’ population size, while reducing the number of areas where one country alone can block a proposal.
any of the more than 100 known substances (of which 92 occur naturally) that cannot be separated into simpler substances and that singly or in combination constitute all matter
They said another crucial element in his decision was that European leaders agreed to his last-minute demand to give the Czech Republic an effective exemption from the treaty’s Charter of Fundamental Rights, which he had argued could lead to a flood of property claims by Germans expelled from the country after World War II.
Because of the Czech delays, European leaders have been unable to settle on who would be president and foreign affairs chief.
an examination administered at the end of an academic term
Fredrik Reinfeldt, prime minister of Sweden, which holds the current European presidency, which rotates among member countries, welcomed the treaty’s final approval.
of or relating to an economy, the system of production and management of material wealth
“The treaty will allow effective European action in areas where solutions are urgent, such as the financial and economic crisis, climate change and energy,� he said.
It seeks to make an increasingly unwieldy bloc more workable by putting in place a new voting system, which reflects countries’ population size, while reducing the number of areas where one country alone can block a proposal.
“The treaty will allow effective European action in areas where solutions are urgent, such as the financial and economic crisis, climate change and energy,� he said.
Fredrik Reinfeldt, prime minister of Sweden, which holds the current European presidency, which rotates among member countries, welcomed the treaty’s final approval.
Some leaders, including President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, insisted there could be no significant further enlargement of the European Union without the Lisbon Treaty in effect.
He had previously warned that the treaty would undermine Czech national interests and had refused to sign it, despite the endorsement of both houses of the Czech Parliament.
perfect and complete in every respect; having all necessary qualities
Though Ireland originally rejected the accord in 2008, it passed in a second vote last month, opening the way for the remaining nations to complete ratification.
Unofficial discussions in Brussels last week indicated that the prospect of the presidential job going to Tony Blair , the former British prime minister once considered a front runner, had faded.
satisfied or showing satisfaction with things as they are
Making little effort to hide his contempt for the treaty, Mr. Klaus said Tuesday that he had decided to sign out of respect for the decision of the country’s Constitutional Court, but that he could not “agree with its contents, because once the Lisbon Treaty will come into effect the Czech Republic will cease to be a sovereign state.�
something owned; any tangible or intangible possession that is owned by someone
They said another crucial element in his decision was that European leaders agreed to his last-minute demand to give the Czech Republic an effective exemption from the treaty’s Charter of Fundamental Rights, which he had argued could lead to a flood of property claims by Germans expelled from the country after World War II.
Because of the Czech delays, European leaders have been unable to settle on who would be president and foreign affairs chief.
determine the measurements of something or somebody, take measurements of
PRAGUE — The Czech president, Vaclav Klaus , signed the landmark Lisbon Treaty on Tuesday, making his country the last of the 27 European Union countries to approve it and allowing its unifying, strengthening measures to go into force shortly across the bloc of half a billion people.
“I am very please President Klaus today has signed the Lisbon Treaty,� he said in a statement, adding that the signature marks the end of a period which has lasted “far too long� in which the bloc had focused on reforming its internal workings.
The treaty, which may go into effect as early as Dec. 1, creates a permanent presidential post and sets up a more powerful foreign policy chief supported by a network of diplomats around the world.
Several lower-profile figures appeared to be likely contenders, including the prime ministers of Belgium and the Netherlands, Herman Van Rompuy and Jan Peter Balkenende; and the former Austrian prime minister, Wolfgang Schüssel .
Because of the huge political obstacles that the Lisbon Treaty has had to overcome, most analysts believe it will be the last attempt to overhaul the European Union’s ground rules for many years to come.
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
It seeks to make an increasingly unwieldy bloc more workable by putting in place a new voting system, which reflects countries’ population size, while reducing the number of areas where one country alone can block a proposal.
something done (usually as opposed to something said)
“The treaty will allow effective European action in areas where solutions are urgent, such as the financial and economic crisis, climate change and energy,� he said.
They said another crucial element in his decision was that European leaders agreed to his last-minute demand to give the Czech Republic an effective exemption from the treaty’s Charter of Fundamental Rights, which he had argued could lead to a flood of property claims by Germans expelled from the country after World War II.
Because of the Czech delays, European leaders have been unable to settle on who would be president and foreign affairs chief.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
They said another crucial element in his decision was that European leaders agreed to his last-minute demand to give the Czech Republic an effective exemption from the treaty’s Charter of Fundamental Rights, which he had argued could lead to a flood of property claims by Germans expelled from the country after World War II.
Because of the Czech delays, European leaders have been unable to settle on who would be president and foreign affairs chief.
equivocate
