France Pushes for EU Reform, Vows to Overcome British Resistance

Strategic Insights -

France has reaffirmed its commitment to European Union reform, aiming to extend qualified majority voting (QMV) to sensitive areas, including taxation, social security, and external trade. Despite British opposition, led by Prime Minister Tony Blair, France is determined to make progress on the issue at the upcoming EU summit in Nice. France's Europe Minister, Pierre Moscovici, emphasized that the key to a successful treaty is the extension of QMV, but acknowledged that this would be difficult to achieve in the short term.

Key Takeaways:

  • France has listed nearly 50 matters to which QMV might be theoretically extended at Nice, including tax, social security, external trade, and asylum and immigration matters.
  • Britain, along with Sweden, the Irish Republic, and the Netherlands, has expressed strong opposition to incorporating the Charter of Fundamental Rights into EU law and extending QMV to sensitive areas.
  • The European Commission's future size and reweighting member states' voting strengths has made some progress, with most countries agreeing to each supply one commissioner to the next Commission.
  • The meeting has also discussed the European Parliament's call for a treaty amendment committing member states to "respect" the charter, but this idea is unlikely to be resolved before the summit.
  • Tony Blair has pledged to block any attempt to extend QMV to tax, social security, defence, border controls, and treaty changes, and his credibility is at stake.
  • Gordon Brown and Robin Cook's reported feud over Europe has spilled over, with tensions rising after one of the Foreign Secretary's aides accused the Chancellor of interfering in European policy.

Statistics:

  • France has listed nearly 50 matters to which QMV might be theoretically extended at Nice.
  • More than 80% of EU decisions are already taken by QMV.
  • 50 vetoes that the commission wants to take away could be abdicated, according to John Redwood, head of the Tories' campaigns unit.
  • The meeting has discussed the European Parliament's call for a treaty amendment committing member states to "respect" the charter.

Sources:

  • The Times, 2000 (exact text reference)