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The Treaty of Nice, December 2000. the struggle for power and influence. Key questions under discussion. Majority voting Rebalancing votes The European Commission Flexibility/enhanced co-operation Charter of Rights. Tensions -. power shift to Germany?
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The Treaty of Nice, December 2000 the struggle for power and influence
Key questions under discussion • Majority voting • Rebalancing votes • The European Commission • Flexibility/enhanced co-operation • Charter of Rights
Tensions - • power shift to Germany? • decisions will need 73% of votes in Council of Ministers AND must have the backing of 62% of the total population • Franco-German chemistry under pressure? • limited progress on increasing number of subjects decided by majority voting
EU members and potential members - population and number of MEPs
Enlargement? • some concrete outcomes as voting weights for new countries agreed • Reform of Common Agricultural Policy not discussed • Movements of labour from East to West still has to be discussed
Commission? • in 2005, large states lose their second Commissioner • size of Commission will be capped ( less than 27) • automatic and equal rotation agreed • Commission President - can sack fellow Commissioners
Charter of Fundamental Rights • ‘proclaimed’ in the Nice Treaty • decision on the status of the Charter to be decided at the next IGC (2004) • this document brings together the civil, political, economic and social rights and freedoms to which citizens of the Union are entitled • This document is not judiciable – ECJ cannot refer to it in the interpretation of EU law.
Post-Nice: developments • National Forum for Europe: • Opened by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, 18 Oct. 2001 • The debate is about: • The separation of power between the Union and member states • The status of the Charter of Fundamental Human Rights • Simplification of the Treaties • The role of national parliaments
The separation of power between the Union and member states • This issue first raised in 90s and was contextualised in Maastricht Treaty in Articles 3b ‘subsidiarity: • A unique constitutional model: • Who is responsible for what • How do Member States and the Community’s responsibilities interlink