Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has reversed his country's stance on a proposed opt-out clause from the treaty's Charter of Fundamental Human Rights, saying the condition might restrict the rights the agreement would guarantee Slovak citizens.

Despite already ratifying the Lisbon Treaty, Slovakia had been pushing for the clause to be enforced retroactively, and warned that it would not back the Czech Republic's request for a similar opt-out unless Slovakia was given the same consideration.

The European Union is awaiting a decision from the Czech Republic regarding the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. Part of the debate in the Czech Republic is the opt-out clause, which some say would prevent property claims by Germans expelled from then Czechoslovakia after World War Two.

Slovakia, which was also part of Czechoslovakia, could face similar claims from Hungarians displaced at the same time.

mz/AFP/dpa
Editor: Nancy Isenson