Home > The Nice Treaty > Preparation Stage

At the Cologne European Council in June 1999, the need for a new IGC was agreed upon, in order to address institutional issues that needed to be addressed before enlarging the Union. Romano Prodi, President of the Commission, requested a group of high-level independent experts to prepare a report on the institutional implications of enlargement. At the Helsinki European Council in December the main issues for the 2000 IGC agenda were accorded.

European Council Summits
Presidency: Conclusions of Helsinki Summit (Extract) - 10-11/12/1999. The full text of the conclusions is also available.
Presidency: Conclusions of the Cologne Summit (Extract) - 3-4/6/1999. The full text of the conclusions is also available.

Report on Implications of Enlargement
Dehaene-von Weizsäcker-Simon: The Institutional Implications of Enlargement - 18/10/1999. Report of independent experts commissioned by the European Commission.
Commission: Adapting the institutions to make a success of enlargement - 10/11/1999. Draft of response to report (see final document below)
Parliament: Preparing the reform of treaties and 2000 IGC - 17/11/1999 A5-0058/1999 (Resolution Dimitrakopoulos/Leinen). Response to Report.
Commission: Adapting the institutions to make a success of enlargement - 26/1/2000 COM (2000) 34. Response to report.

Other
Parliament: IGC - 3/2/2000 A5-0018/2000 (Resolution Dimitrakopoulos/Leinen) Resolution on convening of IGC.
Working Party: Future of the EC Court System - 4/2/2000