WORLD> Europe
Lisbon Treaty hinges on Irish referendum
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-09-16 01:39

Polish president Lech Kaczynski reiterated Tuesday that he would sign the Lisbon Treaty very soon after a positive result of a national referendum on the treaty in Ireland scheduled for Oct 2.

Kaczynski made the statement at a joint news conference with visiting Austrian President Heinz Fischer. Kaczynski said that "a very interesting situation" arose in the EU in connection with the Lisbon Treaty which was the topic of his discussion with the Austrian president.

Fischer said that thanks to the Lisbon Treaty, the EU could operate more efficiently. "It will turn out very soon whether or not the treaty takes effect," he added.

The Lisbon Treaty was designed to boost the EU's global standing through reforming its institutions. But ratification was stalled as Irish voters rejected the pact in June 2008. The treaty will take effect only after all 27 EU members ratify it.

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The Austrian president said that Austria wants to cooperate with Poland in historical issues. Noting that his visit takes place shortly after the anniversary of the outbreak of WWII, Fischer said the fact that people from the territory of the present Austria were active in the German Wehrmacht is "very sad."

The two presidents stressed that Polish-Austrian relations are very good. Their talks also centered on energy security, cross-Atlantic relations and Polish-Austrian economic ties.