Chapter 2 Answer guidance

Q6) Did the Treaty of Nice prepare the EU adequately for enlargement?

See section 2.6

  • Treaty of Nice (2001) was charged with tackling the ‘Amsterdam leftovers’ re. enlargement.
  • Treaty of Nice ‘paved the way’ for enlargement (regarding institutions and decision-making) through:
    • extending QMV
    • planning the Commission’s reduction in size (provided equitable rotation system agreed)
    • capping the size of the EP
    • introducing the ‘yellow card’ procedure for A10
    • developing ‘enhanced cooperation’
  • Through these changes the EU was indeed better equipped for enlargement and was able to avoid the stalling of decision-making.
  • However, some argue that the changes were sub-optimal.
    • e.g. the changes in QMV did not facilitate decision-making
    • Did little to achieve the goal of ‘ever-closer union’
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