Polish parliament to ratify EU treaty 

Poland's parliament will vote to ratify the European Union's reform treaty at a special session that could take place as soon as Tuesday, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Sunday.

President Lech Kaczynski and Prime Minister Donald Tusk agreed on Saturday that Poland would ratify the treaty in parliament without the need to hold a national referendum.

The agreement put an end to a deadlock that started after the conservative opposition - led by Kaczynski's twin brother Jaroslaw - threatened to block the vote.

"I am convinced our agreement will be approved by parliament," Tusk said at a news conference.

"We want this step to take place as soon as possible and the (parliamentary) Speaker is doing everything possible so the vote can take place on Tuesday."

A majority of two-thirds of parliamentary deputies is required for ratification.

Poland unexpectedly found itself in a deadlock over the EU treaty in mid-March after the president and the conservatives threatened to block the approval of the pact negotiated when their party was in power.

Due to conflict in parliament Tusk said the government would push for the refendum, a move that could delay and jeopardise the treaty's approval. But signs of a compromise emerged last Thursday.

A plebiscite in Poland could embolden calls for such votes across the European Union increasing the chances it would not be approved by all 27 EU members. So far only Ireland is scheduled to hold a referendum.

Surveys show most Poles support the reforming treaty, which gives the EU a long-term presidency, a joint foreign policy and more democratic decision-making.