His signature will mean the treaty, which is intended to streamline decision-making, remains un-ratified by just one country, the Czech Republic.

It must be ratified by all 27 member states before it can come into force.

The Czech President, Vaclav Klaus, has said he will not sign the treaty unless his country is granted an opt-out from the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Mr Klaus raised fears about possible property claims by Germans expelled from the then Czechoslovakia after World War II.

Last week, Irish voters approved the treaty in a second referendum.

Read the full article at BBC News