* EU's Barroso warns of blocked Europe
* Czech PM optimistic on treaty ratification
* Czech court to hear treaty challenge on Oct. 27
* Czechs warned they could lose EU commissioner
(Updates with quotes, details, background)
By Marcin Grajewski and Darren Ennis
BRUSSELS, Oct 13 (Reuters) - European Commission President
Jose Manuel Barroso increased pressure on the Czech president on
Tuesday to sign the European Union's Lisbon reform treaty so it
can come into force before the year-end.
Speaking after meeting with Czech Prime Minister Jan
Fischer, Barroso warned that the 27-country EU would be blocked
if the Czech Republic sunk the treaty, which is meant to
streamline decision-making and boost the bloc's global role.
"It is not in the interest of the Czech Republic to have the
treaty delayed and the EU blocked," Barroso told a news
conference. "I certainly hope the Czech Republic will fulfil its
obligation."
The charter has been ratified by all EU nations but Czech
President Vaclav Klaus refused to sign it, demanding guarantees
the document would not pave the way for ethnic Germans expelled
from his country after World War Two to reclaim their property.
Fischer said his government was working on a solution that
would accommodate the demands of Klaus without renegotiating the
treaty and repeating its ratification.
"There are several options. We have to choose the option
that would not involve re-ratification," Fischer said,
reiterating that the Czech Republic should ratify the treaty
this year.
One such option, Fischer said, would be for EU leaders to
approve a political declaration addressing Klaus' concern at a
summit late this month and commit themselves to put it as a
footnote to the treaty at some point in the future.
"I am fully convinced we will succeed in completing the
ratification," the pro-EU Fischer said.
Separately, the Czech Constitutional Court said it would
hold a hearing on Oct. 27 on a challenge that has been delaying
ratification of the treaty.
NO MORE CZECH COMMISSIONER?
Even if the court ruling is favourable for the treaty, the
eurosceptic Klaus wants an opt-out from the EU Charter of
Fundamental Rights -- part of the document -- similar to that
obtained by Britain and Poland in negotiations two years ago.
While Klaus would probably like an exemption to be part of
the treaty, some EU governments are reluctant to grant him even
a political declaration. The treaty gives the EU a long-term
president and a powerful foreign policy chief.
"We should not create precedents. One should not be subject
to blackmail at the last minute," one EU diplomat said.
Barroso warned that the Czech Republic might lose its
representation in the executive European Commission if the
country fails to ratify the treaty.
Under the EU's current Nice Treaty, the number of
commissioners is set to be cut for the first time below the
number of member states.
"If there is no Lisbon Treaty, there is no guarantee for the
Czech Republic or any other country to have a commissioner,"
Barroso said.
Barroso has been re-elected to head the Commission for
another five years after the term of the current EU executive
expires at the end of October.
(Editing by Dale Hudson)
