Proposed changes to EU law allowing an adjustment in the weighting of votes at the European Council and the allocation of commissioners to member states were published today by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
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Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen
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The changes proposed under the Treaty of Nice, signed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Cowen in February, must be ratified by referendum. This is intended for May 31st but may change because of the measures introduced to prevent foot-and-mouth.
A summary of the white paper outlining the changes will be sent to all houses and public institutions such as libraries and Citizens’ Information Centres as part of the Government’s public information campaign.
"While some of the provisions of the Nice Treaty, relating as they do to institutional changes, may appear somewhat technical, the treaty as a whole is about laying the ground-work for changes of enormous significance in the history of Europe," Mr Cowen said at the launch of white paper this morning.
Among the more significant changes planned is the re-weighting of votes to member-state populations on the European Council. This would see Ireland’s allocation rising from three to seven votes while the largest members - UK, Germany, France and Italy - would have 29 votes.
A new system of qualified majority voting in the European Parliament on a broad range of issues is also proposed but taxation will not be included - generally in agreement with arguments made by Ireland at recent European summits.
The Minister said Ireland's neutrality would not be compromised by a common foreign and security policy. He said Ireland would only work in humanitarian and crisis management authorised by the United Nations.
Increased power for the EU president and a debate on how best to increase the EU to 26 members, due to end in 2004, are also provided for.
The Minister said he was confident the treaty would be ratified whenever the referendum takes place.