The Treaty of Nice explained

Book abstract:

The Treaty of Nice will shape the future of Europe for the next generation or more. This book provides analysis of the Treaty giving explanations of the Articles and of the broader context in which they are situated. There are a range of perspectives on the topic, including those from the United Kingdom, Hungarian, Latvian, French, German and Dutch governments and also from a historian, a political scientist, and a lawyer.

The book is divided into four parts. Part 1, 'An Overview of the New Treaty', examines the benefits of enlargement as well as its future implications followed by a chapter that explains the substantive amendments. Part 2 is provided by academics with historical, political and legal analyses. The first chapter looks at the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) in Nice and examines its lack of success against the backdrop of previous IGCs. The second examines IGCs from a political perspective followed by a chapter that looks at the legal and constitutional implications of the Treaty of Nice. Part 3 provides assessments by Member States and Candidate Countries including a European Commission perspective on reforming the institutions for enlargement and general assessment on the success of the Treaty in opening the way for enlargement. The final section looks to the future with a discussion of the Laeken declaration and an argument in favour of a European constitution. Finally, annexes provide lists of changes brought about by the Treaty, Protocols and Declarations annexed to the Treaty of Nice referring to institutional reforms and the Declaration on the Future of Europe.

The book would be suitable for students of European politics. Martyn Bond is Director of the Federal Trust for Education and Research.

Published by Kogan Page on behalf of the Federal Trust.