Nice Results: The Millennium IGC in the EU's Evolution

The article examines debates on institutional reform in the intergovernmental conference (IGC 2000) that culminated in the Nice summit, and the effects of various proposals. The main issues were the indirect power Member States acquired through blocking minorities and how the outcome could be presented at home. The changes were rather modest, with two exceptions. A new population criterion gives Germany greater blocking power than the other large countries and preserves the possibility of three large countries together blocking in an EU of 27 members. Spain's voting weight increased substantially. The new blocking possibilities will affect the relative bargaining position of countries rather than the Union's decision-making capability.

Section: Effective Decision-makingmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Nice Treaty and Voting Rules in the Council

Moberg

2002

“…Different perspectives on the desirable levels of integration also cut across these coalitions based on size. A better assessment of the results of the Treaty of Nice can only be achieved by considering the objectives and the results on each of the six main issues (Duff, 2000;European Parliament, 2001;ECSA Review, 2001;Satuli and Stubb, 2001;Wessels, 2001;Yataganas, 2001).…”

Section: Assessing the Results Of Nicementioning

confidence: 99%

Keynote Article: The Treaty of Nice – Negotiating a Poisoned Chalice?

Gray¹,

Stubb

2001

“…Some influential analysts see the 'fusion' of the various (national and European) institutional elements of the EU as the source of its dynamism (see, e.g., Wessels 2001). Rather than having clear and distinct roles, the various institutions interpenetrate in a complex and messy, but creative, conglomerate.…”

Section: The Community Methods and New Modes Of Governancementioning

confidence: 99%

Looking Forward or Harking Back? The Commission and the Reform of Governance in the European Union

Wincott

2001

The White Paper on European Governance can be seen as a bid to make a major contribution to the strategic leadership of the Union. By centring its deliberations and proposals on the concept of 'governance', the Commission signalled an intention to explore the limits of conventional hierarchical law and policy, and propose alternatives. Yet the White Paper concludes that a renewed and reinvigorated 'Community method' should be at the heart of EU policy-making, with the Commission itself playing an enhanced role. Moreover, the paper criticizes the Member States and 'intergovernmental' institutions, rather than the Commission itself. These features are neither good politics nor a full response to the questions raised by the White Paper or set for it by Prodi. Enlargement and the increased importance of the issues of (re)distribution and related emergence of new modes of governance, such as the open method of co-ordination, pose challenges and provide opportunities for the Commission and the Union more generally. A White Paper that was both more modest and self-confident about the part to be played by the Commission might have made a more important intervention in current debate.