SLOVAKIA: Slovakia's ratification of the European Union constitution has been temporarily halted by the constitutional court, dealing it another blow after rejection in French and Dutch referendums.
Court spokesman Stefan Nemeth said yesterday the suspension was related to an appeal by a group of citizens who said their rights were violated when Slovakia chose to ratify the constitution in a parliamentary vote rather than hold a referendum.
"The constitutional court took a preliminary measure that stops further proceedings in this matter," Mr Nemeth said.
"But this does not mean that it agrees with, or rejects grounds of the appeal." Mr Nemeth said the court expected to rule on the case by the end of the year.
Slovakia's parliament approved the EU constitution in May, but President Ivan Gasparovic has yet to sign it into law.
The treaty has so far been approved in 13 EU countries, including Slovakia, but many EU states have postponed planned votes since EU leaders extended the deadline for ratification following the French and Dutch "No" votes.