Treaty ratification delay raises fears over reforms

Date: 08/10/1998

By Rory Watson

DELAYS in getting the Amsterdam Treaty ratified in all 15 EU member states could affect the negotiations now under way on proposed changes to the Union's agricultural, regional and social policies.

More than 15 months after EU leaders signed up to the new treaty, only nine governments have ratified the latest version of the Union's constitution. Although four more (Belgium, Greece, Spain and Portugal) aim to do so by the end of the year, there is no chance of France and the Netherlands completing the process before early 1999.

When EU leaders finally concluded the complex negotiations on the new treaty in June 1997, they confidently expected it to enter into force in January next year. Now April or even May look like a more realistic target.

This has prompted growing fears that talks on proposed reforms to key Union policies could be affected, as the treaty gives MEPs new legislative powers over the EU's structural funds.

Instead of having a purely advisory role as at present, the European Parliament will have to give its formal approval to the new regional and Social Fund rules before they can become law.

But if EU governments succeed in wrapping up the reform negotiations in the first half of next year, any further delay could seriously weaken the Parliament's role in the process.

Some observers believe that the French government, which has never been enthusiastic about giving the Parliament greater powers, would not be too unhappy about such delays. But others argue that Paris would find it hard to fight a rearguard action on agricultural reform if it was also under attack for dragging its heels over the new treaty.

With increasing attention being paid to the Parliament as the Euro-elections approach, there is also a strong feeling that governments would be politically obliged to take into account MEPs' views on the reform proposals even if the treaty had not technically entered into force.

As it is, the employment guidelines set out in Amsterdam are already being applied and member statess are preparing to appoint their first High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy next month.

The main obstacle to a swift end to the ratification process is the need for France to change its constitution to take account of some of the Amsterdam Treaty's justice and home affairs provisions. Only when the necessary constitutional amendments have been approved will the French parliament be able to start the treaty ratification process.

Even if this is completed by February, the treaty will not come into force before April, because the rules state that it cannot be implemented until the first day of the second month following completion of the ratification process.

Delays could also be caused by Belgium. Although the federal government and Wallonia have already ratified the treaty, it could be held up if procedures under way in Flanders and the Brussels region become enmeshed in one of the country's internal debates.