Problems of Over and Under-Representation of Member States in the European Union: Some Points for Evaluation

The process of European integration has shown a constant effort by member states, as well as by applicant countries, to maximize the weight of representation inside EC Institutions and bodies. On the eve of new extended enlargements, this effort produces and encourages conflicting positions that are not easy to solve, first of all because of the inadequacy of existing Institutions in operating in a much wider and more differentiated context. Institutional reforms therefore constitute an unavoidable priority to disentangle and solve before any further widening: reforms should not be restricted to problems of composition and structure of EU bodies but should be extended to working mechanisms and keep in sight interrelations between roles. Actions concerning the political and monetary governance of the European Union and proposals to create a European Constitution are being developed also in this respect. We have made some comments to emphasize significant disequilibria of “over” and “underrepresentation” — concerning member states as well as applicant countries — in the Council of the Union, Parliament and the Commission, with particular reference to the Intergovernmental Conference, which should be completed by the end of 2000. At the same time, special attention is addressed to the topic of “closer cooperation” that, with its ambiguous and equivocal contents, could paradoxically allow attaining important results at the Nice European Council that, together with the French semester, should mark the end of the Intergovernmental Conference. On the other hand, this action appears particularly difficult, as it should be directed at a search of consent concerning the Council and the Commission, with less emphasis on Parliament. This will involve less engagement in a democratic and federalist sense. However, our wish is that, as has already happened in the past, developments and progress in this direction could go on pursuing a political union and the most appropriate recognition of a diversified pluralism.