Czech opposition criticize Lisbon Treaty exemption clause

Prague - The special opt-out clause agreed between the European Union and the Czech Republic to allow approval for the controversial Lisbon Treaty came under attack from the country's left and unions on Saturday. Faced with the possible refusal by eurosceptic Czech President Vaclav Klaus to sign up for the treaty, a deal was negotiated exempting the Czech Republic from possible compensation claims from ethnic Germans evicted from the then Czechoslovakia after World War II.

But the special exemption from the Charter of Fundamental Rights came under criticism from opposition figures.

"The government has agreed to exempt the Czech Republic from a whole spectrum of social rights, which is difficult to accept," the chairman of the Social Democrats party, Jiri Paroubek, told the Pravo daily newspaper.

The trade union federation CMKOS voiced its fears that Czech workers would not be able to defend their civil rights internationally.

"The trades unions will do everything to make sure the exemption clause is not signed," said Vit Samek, CMKOS deputy director, indicating strikes and demonstrations were possible.

The Lisbon Teaty, which will abolish unanimous decision-making in many areas of Brussels policy in favor of majority voting, and create the posts of president and foreign minister of the EU, is highly controversial.

All 27 member states must approve the document. The only country which put the treaty to a public referendum - Ireland - initially rejected the Lisbon agreement, before a re-run of the referendum last month which secured a 'yes' vote.