Klaus welcomes Merkel's approach to EU issues

President Vaclav Klaus has praised German Chancellor for shifting the terms of the debate on the EU. After meeting with the German leader for three hours at the Meseberg chateau near Berlin on Tuesday evening, the Czech president told Czech Radio that he appreciated the fact that Ms Merkel was willing to discuss the future of the EU on an informal basis. He also said he was glad that under Germany's presidency of the EU, more emphasis was being placed on a new treaty on the operation of the Union and less stress was being put on the EU constitution and the idea of a common foreign policy; two ideas which Mr Klaus - a notorious Eurosceptic - has voiced his opposition to in the past.