1. Amsterdam and Nice: The Dynamics of Enlargement
Professor Brigid Laffan
UCD College of Human Sciences

2. Pressures in the 1990s Secure the Single Currency Enlargement
EMS Crisis 1992
Member States meeting the requirements
Enlargement
EFTA Enlargement in 1996
East Central Europe
From Economic Constitution to Political Constitution (The Citizens)

3. Why Amsterdam Treaty? TEU mandate for an IGC
1995 enlargement without institutional reform
Common Foreign and Security Policy
June 1995-Reflection Group (Messina)

5. Reflection Group Well established cleavages
Commission/EP/supranational or maximalist states
UK, Denmark, Sweden
Flexibility or Enhanced Co-operation
Paper from the German CDU
‘The existing hard core of countries oriented to greater integration and closer cooperation must be further strengthened’
Bypass the minimalists

6. Minimalist States
Maximalist
states

7. IGC Institutional Reforms Limited institutional reform
Extension of QMV
Reallocating the votes among the member states
Large state/small state problem
Limiting the size of the Commission
Role of the EP
Limited institutional reform
Sensitive issues shelved

8. Outcome of Amsterdam Pillar system maintained but changes
Fundamental Rights/Freedoms
non-discrimination clause
Closer Co-operation
Changes to pillar three/pillar two
Area of Freedom Security and Justice
EP-co-decision

9. NICE Amsterdam Leftovers
Deal with the unfinished business of Amsterdam
QMV-More and distribution of votes
Size of the Commission
Seats and votes for the new member states
Enhanced Co-operation

10. Tensions
Large State and Small States-prospect of many more small states
Balances across the large states
Limited agenda

12. Outcome Longest European Council in the history of integration Nice
Council Decision Making
Qualified majority (72%)
Absolute majority of member states
When requested 62% of Member state population
Extension of QMV to a number of areas
Re-distribution of votes in Council
One Commissioner per member states until the EU reached 27 than fewer.

13. Key Questions?
Why did the EU continue to revise its treaties in the 1990s?
Did Amsterdam and Nice prepare the EU for enlargement?