Topolanek: CR not to block talks on reviving EU constitution

Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek who is on an official visit to Brussels has said the Czech Republic will not block talks on reviving a European Union constitution but warned negotiations could drag on as his government may need time to debate a compromise. After meeting European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on Monday, Mr Topolanek said talks might go faster than he anticipated if EU governments agreed to discuss a slimmed-down version compared to the rejected text.

The Czech government is divided on the European constitution. Environment Minister Martin Bursik would like to see discussion on the original text, rejected by voters in France and the Netherlands. Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, Deputy Prime Minister Alexandr Vondra and President Vaclav Klaus have repeatedly spoken in favour of a revision of the original text.