Karamanlis Backs Lisbon Treaty

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  Efforts to ratify the Lisbon Treaty should not be abandoned but remain “on schedule,” even in the face of recent setbacks like the “no” vote in the Irish referendum, Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis stressed at a press conference after the end of the European Council meeting in Brussels on Friday. The premier also conceded that failure to ratify the treaty would effectively stall the expansion process, raising obstacles in the path of Turkey and western Balkan states wishing to join the European Union, but appeared confident that the problem would be resolved eventually. Athens News Agency: Lisbon Treaty must stay on track, PM stresses; EU Council: Presidency Conclusions (20.6.2008)

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