Poland's president has signed the European Union's reform treaty,
leaving the Czech Republic as the only nation yet to ratify the pact.
Polish President Lech Kaczynski completed his country's ratification at
a ceremony Saturday attended by European Commission President Jose
Manuel Barroso and other EU leaders.
Mr. Kaczynski said he is convinced the new pact, designed to streamline EU decision making, will be a success.
The Polish parliament approved the Lisbon Treaty last year, but
President Kaczynski refused to sign it until Irish voters approved it.
Irish voters backed the treaty in a referendum earlier this month,
after rejecting it last year. Ireland is the only EU member
constitutionally required to subject the agreement to a national vote.
All 27 EU nations must ratify the treaty before it can take effect.
Securing the signature of Czech President Vaclav Klaus is now the final obstacle.
The Czech parliament has approved the treaty, but President Klaus has
demanded an exemption from a key element. He opposes a provision that
could make it possible to bypass Czech courts and enforce property
claims of people who were expelled after World War Two.