EU treaty ratification: Readers' views

President Klaus had earlier been an opponent of the treaty

Czech President Vaclav Klaus has signed the European Union's Lisbon Treaty, clearing the way for its ratification.

Mr Klaus, who had originally attempted to block the treaty, signed it shortly after the Czech constitutional court rejected a complaint against it, ruling that it was in line with the country's constitution.

Here, readers in the Czech Republic and other parts of the EU react to the treaty clearing its final hurdle.

I am very happy that our president finally signed the treaty. For the future of our country and our people, the participation in the integration of Europe is crucial. Our politicians managed to discredit our country during our recent EU leadership. These obstructions to signing the Lisbon Treaty, especially for such ridiculous reasons, were almost unbearable. Therefore I am happy this is over and I hope that in the future we will able to contribute in a way we can be proud of.
Martin Anger, Brno, Czech Republic

I support the treaty because of my sympathy for the EU's global vision, but I am very afraid of what will happen to our sovereignty in the next 20 years because we are not good at fighting for our vision - you can see it from our history.
Radek Novotny, Prague, Czech Republic

Personally, I support the treaty. I believe that Europe will be much stronger and more effective, compared with the 27 single countries, in today's globalised world. I enjoy free travelling across Europe, free trade and the euro. Pity that plenty of my Czech friends fear the greater influence of Germany and other nations. This fear is heavily supported by local media.
Jan Machacek, Prague, Czech Republic

Because I travel a lot I know it is important to have a united and strong Europe. What is more, when you travel somewhere to non-European countries, people don't differentiate whether you are from Germany, Czech Republic or Finland. You are just from Europe. The Czech Republic is too small and it is not possible to make an effective global policy alone. I am really happy the treaty was signed. I hope that Europe will be more and more united in the future.
Adam Neumann, Rusava, Czech Republic

I support the signing of the treaty. A common Europe can face up to the global influences better than individual European countries.
Jan Majer, Cheb, Czech Republic

Most people here in Czech Republic support this document. A lot of Czechs are scared of Russia's growing power. Putin still thinks that we are in their sphere of political interest. The Lisbon Treaty is our only chance. We need to be one big Europe if we want stay independent and powerful.
Martin Krivka, Prague, Czech Republic

It's simple, we need the EU far more than the EU needs us.
Jey, Czech Republic

We are back in Europe. This is a great day for whole of the Czech Republic and Europe. Regrettably, we had to wait for such a long time.
Masout, Prague, Czech Republic

I strongly support the signing of the treaty. I think the EU needed this type of reform treaty to allow the decision-making process to become faster and easier. Especially unanimous consent on many issues, which was no longer maintainable. But this is just a first step and the EU should become more united and operational if she wants to compete in global politics.
Marketa Pichova, Brno, Czech Republic

We decided to join the EU in 2003. Now, it is only a confirmation of something that we cannot change. Nevertheless Mr Klaus has the right to his own opinion. It doesn't mean that he is not pro-European if he criticises the EU from excessively dictating to us. It was accomplished fact that he would eventually sign.
Jakub Svec, Prague, Czech Republic

Finally the European Union can progress. The EU will now be less likely to allow the likes of the Bosnian conflict. It will be stronger in world politics and in winning the best deals for all Europeans. No more petty partisan politics.
Colin Browne, Dublin, Ireland

Finally, now the sooner this thing comes into force the sooner people will get to see that it isn't as bad as the Eurosceptics would like us to believe. Hopefully this will also provide an ideal opportunity for Britain to take a more pro-active leadership role in the EU rather than spending all its time criticising any idea that comes from outside this island.
Alex Bailey, Corby, UK

Whatever brings the united states of Europe nearer is welcome. Any reader of European History should agree. Long live a strong Europe and US, if not friends to all enemies to none.
George Grech, Gozo, Malta

I oppose the signing of the treaty. I agree with our president Vaclav Klaus and I believe that our country is no longer a sovereign country. Klaus signed the treaty under pressure, which is against basic democratic principles in my opinion.
Lukas Petrik, Prague, Czech Republic

I find the fact that our president signed the Lisbon Treaty rather unfortunate. The treaty makes strong states like France and Germany even stronger and small states like Czech Republic weaker, which means it is not advantageous for us. However, I understand that the pressure on Vaclav Klaus in the past few weeks must have been enormous, and I understand why he has signed it.
Tomas, Prague, Czech Republic

He has been pushed and forced into signing this treaty. Nobody here in our country needs such a kind of document. It is bureaucratic nonsense which gives privileges only to some groups and nationalities.
Michal Petlan, Prague, Czech Republic

In my view, the Lisbon Treaty is a step towards a rushed federalisation of Europe, which I consider unnecessary at the moment. I think that sovereignty as mentioned in the Czech constitution intrinsically means "exclusive sovereignty" and, therefore, the so-called "shared sovereignty" extended by the Lisbon Treaty is anti-constitutional.
Dalibor Fiala, Plzen, Czech Republic

We are losing our sovereignty like Mr Klaus said we would. We are worried about countries like France and the UK making decisions without our approval. We've learnt from negative events in the past when we lost our sovereignty, like in 1938.
Mirek B, Nachod, Czech Republic

I understand the concerns of the Czech president with regard to the Lisbon Treaty. European countries will lose their own voices on international problems. There will be only the one binding opinion of the European Council. It could lead to a political crisis in Europe. A good example was the war in Georgia where the EU was unable to formulate one statement.
Tomas, Czech Republic

I do not agree with the Lisbon Treaty. It is big risk to our country because Brussels can command us now. It will be very dangerous and it is not freedom.
Tom Caklos, Brno, Czech Republic

This is the final catastrophic act in this whole sorry tale. Former British Prime Minister Ted Heath first signed us up, knowing full well what he was committing us to. Gordon Brown and the Labour Party conned us again into thinking we would have a vote on the EU Treaty. Heath, Blair and Brown should all go down in history as traitors because of this.
Ken Russell, York, UK

A sad and dark day for Europeans - we are now a dictatorship.
Paul Abbott, Brighton, East Sussex, UK

A complete waste of money. Since Europe can seldom agree on a foreign policy that includes anything other than words, what is the point of a Foreign Minister? So more power to an unelected body answerable to nobody who cannot find an audit firm to sign off on their accounts - something that even Enron and Madoff managed.
Iain Stewart, London, UK

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