The Treaty of Nice and the future of the European Union

The European Parliament approved the resolution by Mr Iñigo MENDEZ DE VIGO (EPP-ED, E) and Mr António José SEGURO (PES, P) however it should be noted that it regrets profoundly that the Treaty of Nice has provided a half-hearted and in some cases inadequate response to the matters encompassed within the already modest Intergovernmental Conference agenda. (Please refer to the previous document). Moreover, the Parliament hopes that the deficits and shortcomings with regard to the establishment of an effective and democratic European Union can be dealt with in the course of the post-Nice process. The Parliament also emphasises the point that Union decision-making has become more confused and less transparent, that the principle of existing codecision to cover all the matters in which legislation is adopted by a qualified majority has not followed and that the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union has not been incorporated into the Treaties. The new IGC should be based on a radically different process which is transparent and open and it should initiate a constitutional development. With regard to the proposed make-up of the European Parliament, the Parliament itself deplores the fact that this does not follow any clear logic. It expresses its surprise at the decision to exceed the limit of 700 Members laid down at Amsterdam. In addition, the House regrets the fact that the pillar structure of the treaty has been retained and that, above all in the sphere of the CFSP, unnecessary duplicate structures have established. It calls for the tasks of the Commissioner with responsibility for external relations and the High Representative for the CFSP to be placed in the hands of a Commission Vice-President with specific obligations vis-à-vis the Council.�