Protocol (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’.
On 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.
In its resolution of 3 February 2000, the European Parliament delivers a favourable opinion on the opening of the work of the Intergovernmental Conference.
On 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).
Schedule 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 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.
On 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).
In 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.
In 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.
In 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.
On 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.
On 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.
Note 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.
On 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.
On 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.
On 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.
On 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.
Note 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).
In its resolution of 13 April 2000, the European Parliament presents its proposals concerning the reform of the treaties for discussion at the Intergovernmental Conference.
Note 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.
On 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.
Note 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.
On 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.
On 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.
On 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.
Note 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.
On 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.
On 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.
In 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.
On 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.
Note 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.
‘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.