Stockholm  - Sweden's main opposition party said Wednesday the country was not in a hurry to ratify the Lisbon Treaty, following delays in the ratification process in Germany and Poland.

Sweden's ruling coalition hopes to put the treaty to a vote in parliament in the autumn, but Social Democrat foreign policy spokesman Urban Ahlin called for a more cautious approach.

Ahlin told SR radio said it was unclear how things would work out in Germany and Poland. He was referring to a case against the treaty before Germany's consitutional court and the refusal of Polish President Lech Kaczynski to sign the document, which is designed to streamline the 27-member EU.

One should "wait and see what happens," he said, adding "there is no reason for us to hurry."

Sweden's minister for European affairs, Cecilia Malmstrom, said the country should stick to its timetable for ratification. There was enough time for everyone to make their views known, she said.

Nineteen national parliaments so far have endorsed the treaty, but only 11 have formally completed the ratification process. Irish voters rejected the treaty in a referendum last month. (dpa)