The Czech Constitutional Court ruled Wednesday that the Lisbon Treaty is in line with the Czech Constitution, allowing the ratification process to continue in parliament.

Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek and Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg both said the ruling on the EU reform treaty was good news for the eastern European country and for Europe.

The court's decision in Brno is a big step forward in the treaty ratification process, but does not guarantee smooth approval in both houses of the Czech parliament.

The parliament was expected to approve the treaty but the vote in the Senate was forecast to be tight.

Czech President Vaclav Klaus, whose country takes over the EU presidency on Jan. 1, is a major opponent of the treaty that aims to streamline the EU's institutions.

Klaus said approval of the treaty would harm Czech sovereignty and change the country's international status.

Irish rejection of the treaty, which must be approved by all 27 EU member nations, has halted EU efforts to make structural reforms.

Twenty-five EU members have already approved the pact.

(Xinhua News Agency November 26, 2008)