Czech president jibes at Van Rompuy before meeting

Jan 29, 2010, 10:22 GMT

Prague - Czech President Vaclav Klaus, an opponent of the European Union's deeper integration, made a jibe at European President Herman Van Rompuy before their meeting in Prague Friday, saying he doesn't know what title to use to address him.

The position of full-time EU president was created under the pact's so-called Lisbon Treaty, which Klaus opposed.

'Somebody asked me in a text message how I will address him. I don't know,' Klaus said at a briefing televised on the CT24 news channel. 'I still have to figure that out.'

Klaus and his Polish counterpart, Lech Kaczynski, prefer to use the word chairman to describe Van Rompuy's job. Being opponents of turning the 27-member bloc into what Klaus bills a superstate, they have said that the word president should apply to heads of state.

The Czech president is to meet Van Rompuy, who is in Prague on a one-day introductory visit, on Friday afternoon. Before that, the EU president is expected to discuss climate, economy and aid to Haiti with Prime Minister Jan Fischer.

Klaus said that he will not discuss his eurosceptic views with 'this high representative of the European Union.'

'There is no reason to fear (the meeting),' he said. 'I will accept this high representative of the European Union just like I have accepted other high officials over the years. That I have a completely different opinion on how the European Union should look is another matter.'

Van Rompuy took office on December 1, when the Lisbon Treaty entered into force. He remained in the background until January 1, letting the Swedish presidency of the EU finish its job under the pre-Lisbon Treaty system.