The Polish Sejm (Lower House of Parliament) passed a resolution on Friday calling for speedy signing of the Lisbon Treaty by President Lech Kaczynski.

The resolution was backed by 256 MPs, 147 were against. During the discussion, the Law and Justice (PiS) parliamentary club spoke against the passing of the resolution, according to Polish news agency PAP.

In the document, Sejm turned to the president to take into consideration the will of both chambers of Parliament for quickest possible conclusion of the process of ratification of the Treaty and for active support of its ratification by remaining EU countries.

The Lisbon Treaty, which replaces the European Union constitution scuppered by French and Dutch voters in 2005 referenda, has to be ratified by all 27 member states if it is to take effect by the 2009 target.

"By passing on April 1, 2008 a law expressing its permission for the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, the Sejm unambiguously spoke in favor of the adoption by Poland of the treaty negotiated by the president," the resolution said.

President Kaczynski has many a time repeated that Poland will not stand in the way of the introduction into life of the treaty. However, he did stress that he would sign ratification documents if a successive referendum in Ireland ends in success of treaty supporters.

The Lisbon treaty, which aims to streamline the bloc's institutions after expansion, was approved in April by the Polish parliament, but needs signature of the president to become effective.

Source:Xinhua