Klaus's controversial visit to Dublin is expected to culminate later today with a gathering of prominent eurosceptics, the Irish press reported.
Among them are Philippe de Villiers, the leader of French sovereign party Mouvement pour la France, Anthony Coughlan, an Irish 'No' campaigner, English-born columnist Bruce Arnold and several MEPs.
In total, 80 people were invited to a dinner today in Dublin, closed to the media. Both Ganley and Klaus are expected to deliver speeches.
Regarding the visit of Klaus, Ganley said he was optimistic that the anti-Lisbon Treaty group Libertas, which he has been accused of financing in breach of Irish legislation (EurActiv 26/09/08), would become "a pan-European party".
Klaus met Declan Ganley yesterday, a prominent Irish campaigner against the Lisbon Treaty (EurActiv 11/11/08). Over his visit, the Czech president was quoted as saying that he was "not happy" with what he described as attempts by Europe to "forget the Irish referendum and to change the result".
The Irish government seems to be in a difficult position over what some see as a breach of protocol in the programme of the Czech president. The spokesman of the main opposition party Fine Gael said the Irish Ministry of Foreign Affairs should lodge a formal complaint with its Czech counterpart over Klaus's "inappropriate behaviour in creating a very definite perception that he is strongly sympathising with groupings and individuals who are opposed to Irish government policy".
The Czech Republic will assume the EU's six-month rotating presidency from France in January, prompting nervousness in Brussels and other capitals over the country's European agenda. Commentators in Prague tried to minimise the importance of the Klaus-Ganley meetings, stressing that the Czech President had limited power over foreign affairs issues.
