Marek Jurek, former speaker of Poland's lower parliamentary chamber, has made an appeal to President Lech Kaczynski asking him not to sign the Lisbon Treaty.

The politician stressed that the document lowers Poland's importance in the EU and does not include Poland's most important postulates.

According to Jurek, rejecting the Lisbon Treaty is a chance for Poland to continue a debate on the EU's future, in which Poland will be able to dictate its conditions. These include: ensuring respect for Catholic values throughout the EU, 100 percent direct subsidies for Polish farmers, and fully open job markets open to Poland in all EU countries. 

The Treaty, signed 13 December in Lisbon, features the most crucial provisions of the European Constitution, rejected in 2005 by France and the Netherlands. The same happened to the Lisbon Treaty last week in Ireland, hence it may not come into force 1 January 2009 as planned. (mn)