Brussels, 22/01/2009 (Agence Europe) - Addressing the constitutional affairs committee of the European Parliament on Thursday 22 January (see related article above), the Czech prime minister responsible for European Affairs, Alexandr Vondra, reiterated the Czech government's resolve to ratify the Lisbon Treaty. He described the remark made last week by the prime minister and president-in-office of the European Council, Mirek Topolanek, as a “joke”. Mr Topolanek, addressing the EP in Strasbourg had said the Lisbon Treaty was “worse” than the Nice Treaty (EUROPE 9818). There is no doubt that Mr Topolanek and the government support the new treaty, Mr Vondra asserted. On the other hand, he did not wish to take a stance on the timetable for ratification by the Czech parliament, saying “quality and substance are more important than speed”. He criticised all those (including the EP) who would put pressure on Prague to speed up the process. “We are a responsible and democratic country” which has the right to organise its own parliamentary work as it so intends, he explained. Putting pressure on Czech authorities “is not helpful”, Mr Vondra added, also confirming that the European Council in June should define and approve the “legal guarantees” promised to Ireland in exchange for which the government of Dublin should convene a new referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. It is too soon to speak of the exact form and content of these assurances but “one thing is clear - they should be acceptable to all”, he said. (H.B./transl.jl)