Nice and after: the EU Treaty and associated issues

This brief publication, published by the Centre for Policy Studies, provides an overview and commentary on the Treaty of Nice and some of its implications. The book serves as an introduction to the topic and each chapter consists of a series of questions and answers.

The book is divided into five chapters. The first answers the question, 'What is the Treaty of Nice?' This is a short overview which examines the relationship of the Treaty to the issue of EU enlargement. The second chapter, 'Votes and Vetoes', examines the process of allocating a certain number of votes to new and existing members and whether this has created too much blocking power. The question of the elimination of vetoes is also discussed. Two further documents that were discussed at Nice are looked at in the next two chapters. The chapter on the Charter of Fundamental Rights examines the relationship between the Charter and the Treaty as well as its content and purpose. Similarly, the chapter on the Rapid Reaction Force questions its purpose and also whether it will be the forerunner of an EU army. The book includes two appendices outlining decisions which mean that the right of national veto has either been removed or remains under the Treaty of Nice.

Brian Hindley is Emeritus Reader in Trade Policy Economics at the London School of Economics. He is also a consultant on trade-policy matters to a number of international companies and organisations.