Czech leader may present last barrier to EU treaty ratification

The EU is expected to move quickly to press for implementation of the Lisbon treaty as soon as possible after the resounding Yes vote in the Irish referendum.

The matter will be discussed at a meeting in Brussels on Wednesday between commission president José Manuel Barroso, Swedish PM Frederik Reinfeldt and Czech prime minister Jan Fischer.

The result in Ireland, where an unexpectedly high 67 per cent endorsed the treaty, means the Poles and Czechs remain as the only EU member states yet to ratify the document.

The Poles are expected to do so, possibly as soon as this week, while Czech president Vaclav Klaus now appears ready to sign.

This would represent a major setback to the British Tories, who have pledged to hold a referendum but only as long as the treaty remains un-ratified by all 27 member states.

UK Tory MEP Dan Hannan said on Monday that Tory leader David Cameron, whose party hold their annual conference this week, is "working privately to get a referendum on the treaty."

Hannan, a member of the ECR group, says Cameron has not ruled out a broader referendum on Britain's relationship with the EU.

After the Irish vote on Friday, attention now shifts to completion of the ratification process.

The only likely delay is the timing of a ruling on whether the treaty is admissible by the Czech constitutional court. This is not expected until 15 October.

The Swedish presidency is keen for all obstacles to be cleared by the time EU leaders meet in Brussels for a summit on 29 and 30 October.

The hope is that at the meeting leaders will be able to nominate their candidates for the presidency of the European council, one of the key posts being created by the treaty.

Frontrunners include Tony Blair, Dutch PM Jan Peter Balkenende, ex-Spanish premier Felipe Gonzalez and Luxembourg PM Jean-Claude Junker.

One possible complication caused by any further delay in ratification is the start of the new commission.

It should commence after 31 October but if, as most expect, the treaty does not come into force until 1 January, the current executive's mandate may be extended until the end of the year.

Whenever it starts, the "name-game" over the composition of the Barroso-led commission has already started, with some member states expected to begin nominating their candidates this week.

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