Treaty of Nice Quiz | Government

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The Treaty of Nice was agreed on in December 2000 in Nice. Which country was holding the rotating presidency of the European Union at that time?

Answer: France

Each country holds the rotating presidency of the EU, according to a pre-established rota, for a period of six months. At least one formal meeting ('summit') of the European Council must be held during each presidency. As a rule it takes place in the capital or some other large city in the country holding the presidency; in the second half of the year 2000, this country was France, therefore the summit of the European Council was held in Nice.

The European Council consists of the Heads of State or Government of the Member States, and President of the European Commission.

It meets at least twice a year.

2. After being agreed on, each new Treaty has to go through a long and complicated procedure of ratification. In some EU Member States, before it can be ratified by their respective national parliaments, it must be approved by the citizens in referendum. The people of which country initially rejected the Treaty of Nice?

Answer: Ireland

The Irish people rejected the Treaty of Nice in referendum in 2001. A new referendum was held in October 2002; the majority said 'yes' to the Treaty (and at the same to the enlargement of the European Union) then. The process of ratification of the Treaty of Nice took more than a year.

3. The Treaty of Nice was agreed on in December 2000, signed in February 2001, and came into force in 2003. However, the most important changes introduced by this Treaty didn't apply immediately, but only as from what year?

Answer: 2005

The changes to the composition of the European Commission and the weighting of votes in the Council - the two most important institutions of the European Union - were applicable as from 1 November 2004. The new composition of the European Parliament - the only EU institution chosen in democratic elections - came into force already after the elections in June 2004.

4. The Treaty of Nice defines the number of seats in the European Parliament for the new Member States, the number of votes allocated to them within the Council, etc.

Answer: False

Surprisingly, it is not true. The Treaty of Nice introduces changes to the composition and operation of the 'old' European Union, comprising 15 Member States. The new provisions relating to the system changes after the adhesion of the new Member States are included not in the Treaty of Nice, but in the Accession Treaties signed in April 2003.

5. Pursuant to the Treaty of Nice, the composition of the European Commission is as follows:

Answer: one commissioner from each Member State

Before the enlargement, the European Commission comprised 20 commissioners: two commissioners from each of the five largest states, namely UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and one commissioner from each of the other Member States. As from 2005, each Member State has one commissioner.

However, when the number of Member States reaches 27, the number of commissioners will have to be lower than that of Member States; they will be selected on basis of a fair system of rotation.

6. One of the most important changes brought by the Treaty of Nice is the provision for the appointment of members of some European Union institutions or bodies, who so far were nominated by the European Council, by qualified majority. This provision relates to the nomination of members of at least three of the following EU institutions:

Answer: the European Commission, the Court of Auditors, the Committee of the Regions

Before, the members of the European Commission, the executive body of the EU, were appointed unanimously by the European Council. Following the adoption of the Treaty of Nice, the members of the Commission, as well as those of few other EU institutions and bodies (the Court of Auditors, the Committee of the Regions, the European Economic and Social Committee) are appointed by the European Council acting by qualified majority. Members of the European Parliament are not appointed, they are elected in democratic elections which are held every five years in all Member States.

7. The Treaty of Nice increases the powers of the European Commission president.

Answer: True

The European Commission president's powers have been increased following the adoption of the Treaty of Nice; he has greater influence on the internal organisation of the Commission; allocates portfolios to the commissioners, even has the right to demand a commissioner's resignation.

8. What is the maximum number of the Members of the European Parliament, set by the Treaty of Nice?

Answer: 732

Following the elections, which took place in June 2004, the number of the deputies to the European Parliament has increased to 732. Before, there were 626 MEP's.

9. The Treaty of Nice stipulates that the number of members of the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee cannot exceed which of the following limits?

Answer: 350

The Treaty of Nice stipulates that the number of their members cannot exceed 350 (even though this ceiling won't be reached after the accession of the new Member States), which doesn't change the number of seats allocated to the 'old' Member States.

10. Following the Treaty of Nice, at least one formal meeting ('summit') of the European Council during each rotating presidency has to be held in one of the following cities:

Answer: Brussels

A declaration annexed to the Treaty of Nice stipulates that 'as from 2002, one European Council meeting per presidency will be held in Brussels. When the Union comprises 18 members, all European Council meetings will be held in Brussels'. However, this principle applies only to the formal meetings of the European Council; the informal meetings (usually one such meeting take places during a presidency), can be held wherever the Member State holding the presidency wishes to organise them.

Source: Author beatka

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Treaty of Nice Trivia Quiz

The Treaty of Nice, which introduces important changes to the organisation of the European Union, came into force on February 1st, 2003. This Treaty also allowed for the historic enlargement of the EU to include 10 new member states.

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