ニース条約によるEU主要機関及び政策決定の改革
2002 年 2002 巻 22 号 p. 29-55,351
詳細
2002 年 2002 巻 22 号 p. 29-55,351
In December 2000, the Nice European Council agreed on a new treaty for the EU: the Treaty of Nice. The treaty was signed in February 2001 and is in the process of being ratified by the 15 member states of the EU. The treaty concerns institutional adaptation of the EU for enlargement within a few years.
This article analyze the reforms in the Treaty of Nice, in particular, the European Parliament, the Council of Ministers, the European Commission, and the decision-making system of the EU.
1) The European Parliament
The number of MEPs (Member of the European Parliament) of existing member states will be reduced at next election of the European Parliament in 2004. 302 seats are to be allocated to new member states.
2) The Council of Ministers
The treaty re-allocates the voting strength of individual existing member states and new member states in the Council of Ministers. Two qualified majority thresholds are to be introduced. The new qualified majority requires assent of at least 62% of the total population of the EU and a majority of the members.
3) The European Commission
The Treaty of Nice amends the appointment procedure of the Commission. The nominee President is to be chosen by the Council (composed of Heads of State or Government) by a qualified majority. The list of other members of the Commission is to be adopted by the nominee-President and the Council, acting by a qualified majority. The Commission is to be appointed by the Council by a qualified majority.
The composition of the Commission is also to be amended. If there are fewer than 27 member states, the composition of the new Commission from 2005 will have the same number of member states. When the EU consists of 27 member states, the number in the Commission is to be less than the number of member states. Membership in the Commission will be by rotation.
The treaty of Nice also reinforces the powers of the Commission President by amending article. 217.
4) Decision-making
The qualified majority voting of the Council and the co-decision procedure are to be extended to new areas. But those areas needing the unanimity of the Council still remain.
This Treaty represents the largest possible modification within the existing EU framework. However, the EU also is in need of fundamental institutional reform.
