Prague  - Swedish Minister for European Affairs Cecilia Malmstroem, whose country chairs the European Union until December 31, was is Prague Thursday to map out prospects for the EU's reform treaty ratification.

The so-called Lisbon Treaty, which is aimed at boosting EU's global role through streamlining the decision-making in the enlarged bloc, requires approval by all 27 members to come to force.

After the Irish gave the pact the green light in a repeated referendum last week, it awaits presidential signatures in the Czech Republic and Poland.

Malmstroem's mission comes a day after EU officials discussed the matter with Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer and a day before European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek was set to visit Prague.

Analysts described the slew of Europe-wide diplomatic efforts as a display of pressure on Czech President Vaclav Klaus, the treaty's outspoken opponent whose signature may be the last one required for the new EU rules to come to force.

EU officials have rejected those interpretations.

"We are here to listen and to find out the timetable for the ratification," said Malmstroem's spokeswoman Elin Boberg. "We need to know a reasonable timetable because we need to get the (European) commission in place as soon as possible."

The EU executive's term is to expire by the end of October but is expected to be prolonged until the year end.

The formation of a new European Commission now depends on the speed of the Czech ratification as the EU hopes to set it up under the new Lisbon Treaty rules.

Malmstroem's Prague appointments include prominent lawmakers and senators as well as premier Fischer. She was, however, declined a meeting with the president, Boberg said.

It also remained unclear whether Klaus would meet Buzek on Friday. "I cannot confirm it at the moment," president's spokesman Radim Ochvat said.

Klaus is barred from ratifying the pact until the top Czech court rules on a challenge against it, which was recently lodged by a group of his followers in parliament's upper house, the Senate.

The first court hearing may take place before the end of October, the Brno-based court said.

Klaus's Polish counterpart Lech Kaczynski plans to ink the accord on Sunday, his aide Aleksander Szczyglo told TVN24 news channel, the latest of mixed signals from Warsaw on signature's timing.  (dpa)