The Intergovernmental Conference
Convening
Protocol (No 7) on the institutions with the prospect of enlargement of the European Union (Amsterdam, 2 October 1997)
TextProtocol (No 7) on the institutions with the prospect of enlargement of the European Union, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and the Treaties establishing the European Community, the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Atomic Energy Community by the Treaty of Amsterdam of 2 October 1997. This protocol provides for the convening of a new intergovernmental conference before the ‘major enlargement’.
Conclusions of the Cologne European Council: excerpt concerning the Intergovernmental Conference (3–4 June 1999)
TextOn 3 and 4 June 1999, the Cologne European Council reaffirms the need to convene an Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) aimed at resolving the institutional issues which were not settled in Amsterdam.
Conclusions of the Helsinki European Council: extract concerning preparations for enlargement (10–11 December 1999)
TextOn 10 and 11 December 1999, the Helsinki European Council confirms the mandate of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) and sets out its objectives.
Resolution of the European Parliament on the convening of the IGC (3 February 2000)
TextIn its resolution of 3 February 2000, the European Parliament delivers a favourable opinion on the opening of the work of the Intergovernmental Conference.
Opening of the 2000 Intergovernmental Conference (Brussels, 14 February 2000)
ImageOn 14 February 2000, in Brussels, Jaime Gama, Portuguese Foreign Minister and President-in-Office of the Council of the European Union, signs the official document which marks the opening of the 2000 Intergovernmental Conference (IGC).
Organisation and conduct
Schedule for the 2000 Intergovernmental Conference (IGC)
TableSchedule for the meetings of the Conference of the representatives of the Governments of the Member States (Intergovernmental Conference - IGC) which started work on 14 February 2000, culminating on 10 December 2000 with the adoption of the draft Treaty of Nice.
Note from the Presidency on the follow-up to the Feira European Council and the organisation of the work of the IGC (6 July 2000)
TextNote from the European Union Presidency, dated 6 July 2000, on the headway achieved after the Feira European Council and on how the Intergovernmental Conference will continue its work.
Press conference held by Jacques Chirac: European defence (Nice, 7 December 2000)
VideoOn 7 December 2000, commenting on the items on the agenda of the Nice European Council, the French President, Jacques Chirac, outlines why he supports the establishment of a European Military Command independent of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).
Interview with Nicole Fontaine (Brussels, 5 February 2008) — Excerpt: the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2000
VideoIn this interview, Nicole Fontaine, President of the European Parliament from 1999 to 2002, discusses the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2000.
Interview with Hubert Védrine: the negotiations that led to the signing of the Treaty of Nice (Paris, 2 July 2008)
VideoIn this interview, Hubert Védrine, former French Foreign Minister, discusses the negotiations that took place under the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2000. He focuses particularly on the European Council that was held in Nice from 7 to 9 December 2000 and led to the signing of the Treaty of Nice on 26 February 2001.
Interview with Pierre Moscovici: the negotiations leading to the signing of the Treaty of Nice (Paris, 23 July 2008)
VideoIn this interview, Pierre Moscovici, Minister for European Affairs in the French Foreign Ministry from 1997 to 2002, describes the negotiations held during the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union and at the Nice European Council of 7, 8 and 9 December 2000 which led to the signing of the Treaty of Nice on 26 February 2001.
Points of debate
Memorandum from Benelux on the IGC and the institutional reforms (11 December 1999)
TextOn 11 December 1999, the representatives from the three Benelux countries set out their positions on all the matters likely to be negotiated in connection with the forthcoming institutional reform.
Basic principles of Austria's position for the IGC on institutional matters (10 February 2000)
TextOn 10 February 2000, the Austrian Permanent Representation sends the basic principles of the position adopted by the Austrian Federal Government for the Intergovernmental Conference on institutional matters to Javier Solana, Secretary-General of the Council/High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy.
EU Presidency note on the extension of qualified majority voting (11 February 2000)
TextNote from the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, dated 11 February 2000, on the extension of qualified majority voting. In its note, the Presidency sets out the Treaty provisions which provide for the common accord of Member States or for unanimity on the part of the Council and for which a possible change to qualified majority voting should be considered.
Italy's position on the revision of the Treaties (3 March 2000)
TextOn 3 March 2000, the Italian delegation communicates its position on the revision of the Treaties to the Conference of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States.
Contribution from the Danish Government concerning the IGC on institutional reform (7 March 2000)
TextOn 7 March 2000, the Danish Government sends its contribution ahead of the forthcoming Intergovernmental Conference on institutional reform.
Contribution from the Finnish Government concerning the IGC on institutional reform (7 March 2000)
TextOn 7 March 2000, the Finnish Government sends its contribution ahead of the forthcoming Intergovernmental Conference on institutional reform.
Policy document of the FRG on the IGC on institutional reform (21 March 2000)
TextOn 21 March 2000, the government representative of the Federal Republic of Germany communicates Germany’s fundamental position on institutional reform to the Chairman of the Intergovernmental Conference Group of Ministers’ Representatives.
French Memorandum on reform of the European Union's judicial system (22 March 2000)
TextOn 22 March 2000, the French authorities issue a memorandum on the reform of the European Union’s judicial system ahead of the Intergovernmental Conference on institutional matters.
Greek memorandum on the reform of the judicial system of the European Union (22 mars 2000)
TextOn 22 March 2000, the Greek representative to the European Union (EU) sends a memorandum setting out the position of the Greek authorities on the reform of the EU’s judicial system to Javier Solana, Secretary-General of the Council/High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy.
EU Presidency note on the weightings of votes in the Council (24 March 2000)
TextNote from the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, dated 24 March 2000, on the weightings of votes in the Council. In its note, the Presidency proposes to the Conference that the discussion be refocused on the main characteristics of the future system for weighting votes in the Council, irrespective of the option chosen (dual majority or reweighting of votes).
European Parliament resolution containing the European Parliament's proposals for the IGC (13 April 2000)
TextIn its resolution of 13 April 2000, the European Parliament presents its proposals concerning the reform of the treaties for discussion at the Intergovernmental Conference.
EU Presidency note on the extension of qualified majority voting (20 April 2000)
TextNote from the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, dated 20 April 2000, on the extension of qualified majority voting. In the light of discussions held during the first phase of the Conference’s work at representative and ministerial level, the Presidency suggests an overall approach which could constitute a basis for further detailed work on the question of qualified majority voting by the Group of Representatives.
Contribution from the Belgian delegation on the Committee of the Regions, Articles 21(3) and 151(4) of the EC Treaty and the Court of Justice (12 May 2000)
TextOn 12 May 2000, the Belgian delegation sends proposals for amendments to the Treaties to the Conference of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States. These proposals concern the Committee of the Regions, Articles 21(3) and 151(4) of the Treaty establishing the European Community, and the Court of Justice.
Points of debate
EU Presidency note on the weightings of votes in the Council (24 May 2000)
TextNote from the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, dated 24 May 2000, on the weightings of votes in the Council. In its note, the Presidency provides tables that illustrate the possible methods for amending the weighting of votes in the Council.
Contribution from the Italian delegation on the size and composition of the European Commission (26 May 2000)
TextOn 26 May 2000, the Italian delegation sends a contribution on the size and composition of the European Commission to the Conference of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States.
Contribution from the Italian delegation on the weightings of votes in the Council (16 June 2000)
TextOn 16 June 2000, the Italian delegation communicates its position to the Conference of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States on the reweighting of Member States’ votes in the Council of the European Union.
Contribution from the Spanish delegation on enhanced cooperation in the second pillar (14 July 2000)
TextOn 14 July 2000, the Spanish delegation sends the Conference of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States a proposal on enhancing cooperation in the second pillar.
EU Presidency note on closer cooperation (18 July 2000)
TextNote from the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, dated 18 July 2000, on closer cooperation. In its note, the Presidency sets out a series of questions that will be put forward for discussion at the ministerial meeting on 24 July 2000.
Note from the EU Presidency on other subjects to submit to the Group of Representatives (6 September 2000)
TextOn 6 September 2000, the Presidency of the Council of the European Union sends a note to the Conference of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States. This note refers to new subjects suggested by the national delegations that are to serve as the basis for discussions at the Intergovernmental Conference.
Irish Government proposal on the extension of qualified majority voting (28 September 2000)
TextOn 28 September 2000, Ireland’s representative to the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) submits a proposal to the IGC on the extension of qualified majority voting in the area of social protection.
Benelux memorandum on the IGC and the future of the European Union (29 September 2000)
TextIn the run-up to the Biarritz and Nice European Councils, scheduled for October and December 2000, the representatives from the three Benelux countries adopt a joint memorandum on the reforms of the European institutions in connection with the Intergovernmental Conference.
Position paper from Germany and Italy on enhanced cooperation (4 October 2000)
TextOn 4 October 2000, the German and Italian delegations jointly submit a position paper on enhanced cooperation to the Intergovernmental Conference, together with draft amendments to the relevant articles of the Treaties.
EU Presidency note on closer cooperation (5 October 2000)
TextNote from the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, dated 5 October 2000, on closer cooperation. In its note, the Presidency examines the general arrangements for closer cooperation.
Cartoon by Haitzinger on the Nice European Council (8 December 2000)
Image‘Garage in Nice.’ On 8 December 2000, during the Nice European Council, the German cartoonist, Horst Haitzinger, considers the difficulties facing the European Union in tackling its future political and institutional challenges.