THE PRESIDENT of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Klaus, has warned of a shift towards "supranationalism" in Europe which he says is supressing freedom and democracy.
Mr Klaus, an outspoken critic of the European Union, also said last night he was "not happy" with what he described as attempts by Europe to "forget the Irish referendum and to change the result".
The Czech president was speaking at a joint press conference in Dublin with Declan Ganley, the founder of the anti-Lisbon Treaty group Libertas. They were speaking ahead of a private dinner in honour of Mr Klaus in the Shelbourne hotel, hosted by Mr Ganley, which had generated controversy in diplomatic circles.
According to Government sources, the Department of Foreign Affairs had - while making no official complaint - expressed surprise to Czech officials at Mr Klaus's attendance at the private campaign meeting, suggesting protocol was not being observed.
But Mr Klaus last night denied that protocol had been breached and said that during the first two days of the visit - during which he met Taoiseach Brian Cowen and President Mary McAleese - "no one mentioned this evening's [event]. It's a creation on the part of the media that it was a problem," he said.
He said that, as the president of his country, there was be no question of him joining Libertas. However, he added: "If Mr Ganley wins the European elections I will be the first to congratulate him."
A spokesman for Libertas said last night it was in talks with the Eurosceptic French party Mouvement Pour La France (MPLF) about aligning itself to a Libertas pan-European party. Two MPLF MEPs were in attendance last night, including leader Viscount Philippe de Villiers.
About 80 people attended the dinner, from which reporters were excluded. Guests included the Austrian MEP Hans-Peter Martin; Independent Munster MEP Kathy Sinnott; former MEP Patricia McKenna of the Green Party; Anthony Coughlan of the National Platform; newspaper columnist Bruce Arnold and Libertas spokeswoman Caroline Simons.
Mr Klaus, whose country assumes the presidency of the EU next month, told journalists that the developments in Europe in recent years had not been positive for democracy.
"There has been a radical shift from integration to unification, from intergovernmentalism to supranationalism. The European Constitution, now called the Lisbon Treaty, is something which accelerates the shift," he said.
"I'm afraid that freedom and democracy will not be enhanced by ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. On the contrary. On this issue we share the views with Mr Ganley and Libertas."
Fine Gael's foreign affairs spokesman Billy Timmins said the Minister for Foreign Affairs should lodge a formal complaint with his Czech counterpart over Mr Klaus's "inappropriate behaviour in creating a very definite perception that he is strongly sympathising with groupings and individuals who are opposed to Irish Government policy".
