What Klaus deserves to be thanked for and what not

Czech President Václav Klaus has been given what he asked Brussels for in exchange for ratifying the Lisbon Treaty. The charter of fundamental human rights which forms part of the Treaty may not be used as a legal basis for potential lawsuits against the Beneš decrees. Klaus thus hopes to forestall demands for the restitution of property made by expulsed Sudeten Germans. The business paper Hospodářské Noviny finds this humilliating: "He certainly doesn't deserve angry criticism for holding Europe to ransom. The Union should be grateful to him. Thanks to Klaus there is once more an open discussion about where Europe is headed. And this debate must continue. But what do we Czechs have to thank him for? To achieve his goal he has reawakened the weary ghost of the Sudeten Germans. … Thanks for the discussion about Lisbon, Mr President. But don't expect any thanks for the humiliating means used to achieve your goal."

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