Klaus wants EU treaty to prevent German property restitution

Prague — Czech President Vaclav Klaus on Friday called for the EU reform treaty to prevent ethnic Germans forced out of the country after World War II from claiming back their property.

Klaus is the last European Union leader holding out on signing the treaty, which is designed to streamline decision-making in the expanded bloc and which must be ratified by all 27 members to take effect.

"Before ratification, the Czech Republic must negotiate… an exception," said Klaus, a staunch eurosceptic.

Otherwise, the Charter of Fundamental Rights — a part of the treaty — will make it possible "to bypass Czech courts and enforce the property claims of people expelled after World War II at the European Court of Justice," he added.

Poland and Britain obtained similar exemptions or "opt-outs" on the charter in their negotiations on the blueprint in 2007.

Catholic Poland received assurances from the EU that the charter would not force it to allow gay marriage, while Britain was assured that European laws and courts would not prevail over its own judicial system.

AFP/Expatica