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EU Presidency: Lisbon Treaty Could Enter Into Force Dec 1

BRUSSELS -(Dow Jones)- The new European Union Lisbon Treaty could enter into force as early as Dec. 1, provided that the Czech president signs it, the Swedish government, which holds the EU rotating presidency until year-end, said Tuesday.

"Now all that remains is the Czech President's signature," Sweden said in a statement. "Provided that the treaty is signed in November, it can enter into force on 1 December 2009," it added.

Earlier Tuesday, Czech constitutional justices dismissed the complaint by a group of Euroskeptic senators that the Lisbon Treaty violates the country's constitution.

Czech President Vaclav Klaus has withheld signing until the court ruling, arguing that the document strips the Czech Republic of its sovereignty.

-By Alessandro Torello, Dow Jones Newswires; +32 2 741 14 88; alessandro.torello@dowjones.com

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