(PRAGUE) - Czech lawmakers will meet in a special session next week to debate ratification of the EU's Lisbon Treaty, a top official said Monday, after Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek warned it might be rejected.

The head of parliament's lower house, Miloslav Vlcek, told reporters that enough votes had been cast to enable the session to be held on December 9 at the request of the opposition Social Democrats.

Topolanek's centre-right government has already given the treaty its approval, and the constitutional court ruled last week that it was in line with the country's constitution.

However the prime minister, who views the treaty as a "necessary evil", said a month ago that it should not be debated in parliament until early next year.

"If the session takes place (in December), I fear the worst, namely that in the current agitated atmosphere the Treaty of Lisbon will be rejected by the Chamber of Deputies," he said Sunday during a televised debate.

The Czech Republic, which takes over the rotating presidency of the European Union from France at the end of the year, is the only country in the 27-member bloc not to have voted on the Treaty, which changes the basic rules for running the EU to make it more flexible.

However the pact requires unanimous approval of every country, and remains in limbo following its rejection by Irish voters in a June referendum.

The treaty will be debated by the two-chamber parliament where it is seen as likely to pass with votes from most of the governing coalition deputies and senators, as well as from the Social Democrats.

The Czech Republic's eurosceptic president, Vaclav Klaus, is totally opposed to the treaty, but his powers are limited, and it might be difficult for him to veto the Lisbon Treaty if it is approved by parliament.

Last month Klaus said he might only sign the treaty to finalise the ratification process once Ireland has approved it.

The Irish government is now under increasing pressure to call a second referendum.

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