SLOVAK President Ivan Gašparovič is prepared to sign the European Constitutional Treaty despite a request by Slovakia’s Constitutional Court to wait.

The president has until November 2006 to sign the document, at which time the EU will collect ratification documents from all EU member states, the SME daily reported.

The Slovak parliament approved the EU constitution earlier this year. The court is currently deciding on a motion, submitted by Slovak citizens, who argue that Slovak voters, not parliament, should have the power to determine ratification via a national referendum.

Compiled by Martina Jurinová from press reports

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