On 28 September 2000, the German weekly newspaper Die Zeit outlines the shortcomings of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

In March 2001, Andrew Duff, Member of the European Parliament and spokesman on constitutional affairs for the Group of the European Liberal, Democrat and Reform Party (ELDR), criticises the work of the 2000 Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) and highlights the need for a new method in order to make better preparations for a new Constitutional Treaty.

In autumn 2001, in the journal Commentaire, Jean-Louis Bourlanges, Member of the European Parliament, strongly criticises the Treaty of Nice and analyses in particular the imbalances that it creates between European partners as well as the negative effects that it has on the functioning of the European Union institutions.

In 2001, Klaus Hänsch, a German MEP and former President of the European Parliament, welcomes the outcome of the Nice European Council held from 7 to 9 December 2000 and emphasises that the new Treaty should highlight new prospects for the European Union.

In 2001, Elmar Brok, European Parliament representative at the 2000 Intergovernmental Conference (IGC), criticises the outcome of the Nice European Council held from 7 to 9 December 2000 and highlights the need to establish a Convention for the drafting of a new European Treaty.

In an article published in the quarterly journal Commentaire in summer 2001, following the signing of the Treaty of Nice on 26 February, Alain Lamassoure, MEP and former French Minister for European Affairs, takes stock of the state of the European Union and shows how the Treaty constitutes a step backwards in the development of the Fifteen’s institutions.

On 27 March 2001, the Action Committee for the European Union adopts a Memorandum in Brussels on the state of the European Union following the decisions taken at the Nice European Council from 7 to 9 December 2000 and the signing of the Treaty of Nice on 26 February 2001.

On 12 December 2000, in Strasbourg, Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission, outlines to Members of the European Parliament the successes and failures of the Nice European Council of 7–9 December and of the Treaty adopted there by the Heads of State or Government of the Fifteen.

On 12 December 2000, in Strasbourg, Enrique Barón Crespo, Spanish Chairman of the Group of the Party of European Socialists (PES), outlines to Members of the European Parliament the inadequacy of the achievements of the Nice European Council.

On 12 December 2000, in Strasbourg, Pat Cox, Irish Chairman of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Group (ELDR), outlines to Members of the European Parliament the inadequacy of the achievements of the Nice European Council.

‘The European Parade.’ On 12 December 2000, the German cartoonist Mohr comments ironically on the modest achievements of the Nice European Council and criticises in particular the attitude of the French President Jacques Chirac, depicted as a 'Gallic rooster' towards his European partners.