Prague - Czech parliament's lower house Wednesday threw out a presidential veto of a bill banning discrimination, making the Czech Republic the last European Union member to adopt such a law.

Overriding the veto in a 118-16 vote, the house removed a threat that the European Union would impose sanctions on the Central European country of 10.4 million for failing to adopt the bill.

The Czech Republic agreed to adopt the law prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of age, race, ethnicity or sexual orientation as a condition for joining the EU in 2004.

However, President Vaclav Klaus vetoed the much-delayed legislation in May 2008 after it cleared parliament.

Klaus said that the legislation was "counter-productive" and "unnecessary", arguing that protection against discrimination is included in existing laws.

The EU's executive, the European Commission, had threatened to sue the Czech Republic over its failure to adopt the bill.

Fourteen lawmakers abstained and 52 were absent from the vote, which required a 101 majority in the 200-seat chamber. (dpa)