Germany's upper house of parliament backed legislative changes today that pave the way for ratification of the EU's Lisbon Treaty, putting the spotlight on an Irish referendum on the text next month.
The Bundesrat upper house approved the changes after Germany's highest court demanded in June that Chancellor Angela Merkel's government tweak legislation on the EU treaty to make it comply with the German constitution.
The Bundesrat's backing of the changes means President Horst Koehler can sign off on the treaty, designed to streamline decision-making in the 27-member union. The lower house gave its approval last week.
The legislative changes oblige the German government to inform parliament "thoroughly and as early as possible" about EU business and spell out parliament's right to express an official view on any EU matter the government discusses in Brussels.
Germany and only three other countries - the Czech Republic, Ireland and Poland - in the union have yet to approve the treaty.
Eurosceptic presidents in Prague and Warsaw are expected to back the treaty if Ireland passes next month's referendum.