Duits gerechtshof doet eind juni uitspraak over Verdrag van Lissabon (en)
Germany's constitutional court is to publish its judgement on whether the EU's Lisbon Treaty is compatible with the country's constitution on 30 June.
The court is examining a complaint by centre-right politician Peter Gauweiler and some left wing deputies that the proposed new rules for the EU would undermine the powers of the national parliament (Bundestag) and therefore the principle of democracy in Germany.
The Gauweiler party suggests that the German parliament is losing its constitution-given powers as decisions it takes can subsequently be overturned at the EU level if the European Commission proposes a law on a similar issue.
The questions raised by the complaint prompted the court to hold an usually long hearing on the matter in February.
The hearing, to which Berlin sent two ministers to defend the Lisbon Treaty, saw some of the judges express some scepticism about further EU integration.
It examined the fact that Germany is able to transfer sovereignty to the European Union although it is not considered to have same democratic and state principles as Germany itself.
There was also much discussion on the fact that the EU now has powers in criminal law - sanctions may be given for polluters of the environment.
Judge Udo Di Fabio, who prepared the procedure and will deliver the judgement on the treaty, asked whether the transferral of powers to the EU really means more freedom for EU citizens.
German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung suggests that the court will give the green light to the treaty, which reforms the workings of the EU institutions, including giving much more power to the parliament and removing member state vetoes in all but a few areas.
However, it is expected to attach strong conditions in its judgement, saying that further development of the European Union cannot happen without the German parliament's assent and that extending the competences of the bloc will not be allowed without parliament's agreement.
The newspaper also says the court will try and ensure the greatest degree of consensus among the eight judges in order to make the judgement even stronger.
The verdict is keenly awaited throughout the EU.
A judgement that approves the treaty will increase the pressure on Ireland which is facing a second referendum on the document in autumn, after having rejected it last June.
The treaty also has yet to be fully ratified in Poland and the Czech Republic where presidents of these countries are holding off signing until Ireland's position is clear.
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