Article: Czech Republic : Czechs given opt-out to spur Lisbon deal.

Byline: Mamta03

European Union leaders on Thursday clinched the deal needed to ensure ratification of their Lisbon reform treaty, but the prospects for a climate change financing accord were less rosy.

Jan Fischer, the Czech prime minister, told leaders of the 27-nation bloc at summit talks in Brussels that Vaclav Klaus, the Eurosceptic Czech president, would sign the Lisbon treaty in return for an opt-out from its charter of fundamental rights.

The leaders have agreed the Czech opt-out. All the leaders applauded and cheered, a diplomat from Sweden, which has been negotiating the opt-out on behalf of the EU, told Reuters.

If, as seems ...

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