Polish president signs Lisbon Treaty

Poland's President Lech Kaczynski signs the European Union's Lisbon Treaty during signing ceremony at the presidential palace in Warsaw October 10, 2009. Kaczynski signed the EU's reform treaty into law on Saturday, leaving the Czech Republic as the only country still to ratify the document.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

President Lech Kaczynski on Saturday signed the Lisbon Treaty, leaving the Czech Republic as the only country still to ratify the European Union reform measure.

"Today is a very important day in the history of Poland and the European Union," Kaczynski said at a signing ceremony attended by European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and other officials.

"The Irish people's change of decision has brought the Lisbon Treaty back to life and there are no obstacles to its ratification," he said.

The president had previously said that he would sign the treaty only after it was ratified by Ireland.

The treaty, signed by EU heads of state and government in December 2007 in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon, was designed to boost the EU's global standing through reformation of its institutions.

But ratification was stalled when Irish voters rejected the pact in June 2008. Ireland, the only country that held a public ballot on the treaty, passed the measure Oct. 2 in a second national referendum.


Poland's President Lech Kaczynski holds signed document of European Union's Lisbon Treaty as Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk (L), Sweden's Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt (2nd R) and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso (R) look on during signing ceremony at the presidential palace in October 10, 2009.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

The charter must be ratified by all 27 EU member states before it can take effect.

The only missing signature on the treaty is that of Czech President Vaclav Klaus, who has said that he will seek an exemption from the measure for his country before signing the document.

Source:Xinhua