Brussels, 29/06/2009 (Agence Europe) - The German constitutional court in Karlsruhe is expected to give its ruling on the Lisbon Treaty on Tuesday 30 June. The matter had been referred to the court by several complainants opposed to the treaty (a very diverse group in which there is a Bavarian conservative of the CSU as well as the radical left party, “Linke”), who called on the judges to verify whether the Lisbon Treaty is in line with basic German law, and especially whether the transfer of sovereignty foreseen by the treaty deprives the German parliament of its prerogatives. During oral arguments, several judges expressed considerable scepticism about the amount of national authority that the treaty confers upon the EU, including in the field of police cooperation and cooperation in criminal law (EUROPE 9838). According to the complainants, fundamental German law (Article 146) would make it an obligation to hold a referendum if the treaty upturns the constitutional order. The court decided that the Lisbon Treaty should be approved by referendum. This would not only question the timetable for adoption and implementation of the treaty (on which the Irish are to vote by referendum in October) but also the process of renewing the European Commission. Both houses of the German parliament (Bundestag and Bundesrat) have long since approved the Lisbon Treaty but the German president, Horst Köhler, awaits the Court's judgement before signing the ratification law. (H.B./transl.jl)