Luxembourg, 26/10/2009 (Agence Europe) - Foreign Ministers got down to work at the General Affairs Council in Luxembourg on Monday afternoon with a debate of preparation for the European Council on Thursday and Friday of this week (29-30 October), and more specifically, Czech ratification of the Lisbon Treaty and the setting up of a European External Actions Service. With regard to the new Treaty, Czech sources confirmed on Monday that, at the request of the President Vaclav Klaus, the government was seeking a general opt-out from the Charter of Fundamental Rights, in the form of a protocol, to be annexed to the Treaty at the next enlargement of the EU, similar to what has already been got by the UK and Poland. Ministers did not discuss in detail a form of words that would satisfy the Czechs and, at the same time, be acceptable to the other 26 countries, leaving that debate for leaders at the European Council on Thursday evening. The Swedish Presidency will continue its consultations with Prague and the other capitals, the aim still being to reach agreement at the Council. In the meantime, Slovakian minister Miroslav Lajcak said on Monday that, although it had ratified the Lisbon Treaty, Slovakia intended to seek the same opt-out as the Czech Republic given that it will affect the former Czechoslovakia and, in particular the Benes Decrees. The hearing will take place in the Czech Constitutional Court this Tuesday, 27 October, on a complaint lodged by several senators who believe that the Treaty is not compatible with the Czech constitution. Several Czech sources would not rule out on Monday the possibility that the court would deliver its ruling in the course of the week, perhaps even before the European Summit. Swedish European Affairs Minister Cecilia Malmström, however, suggested to press that the court might need “a few days” more and that, as a result, the judges' ruling might not be known by the European Council. This should not, however, prevent leaders from reaching a decision on the Czech opt-out request this week, Swedish Presidency sources said. Malmström said she was confident that agreement could be reached on funding for tackling climate change, another of the Council's main issues, at the Summit. (H.B./transl.rt)