Nice gives the Lilliputians of Europe a real fighting chance

A ‘Europe of Equals’ appears to be the key phrase emerging in the debate on the Nice Treaty. Those proposing a ‘no’ vote argue that the treaty marks the end of equality in the EU.

The argument is threefold: firstly that Ireland will lose its automatic right to appoint a commissioner; secondly that qualified majority voting will be extended, thus removing our veto and, thirdly, that enhanced co-operation will create a two-tiered Europe.

If Nice were to be ratified, from 2005 the bigger states would lose their right to appoint a second commissioner. The ten accession states would each have the right to appoint one commissioner, thus providing for a commission where tiny Malta would have precisely the same representation as Germany. Qualified majority voting will be extended to cover 25 areas, all of which are set out in the treaty.