On 28 November 2000, Joschka Fischer, German Foreign Minister, delivers a speech to the Bundestag in which he emphasises the implications of the imminent Nice European Council.

On 6 and 7 December 2000, on the margins of the Nice European Council, European trade unionists demonstrate in the streets of the city in favour of a more social Europe and against the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

From 7 to 9 December 2000, the Heads of State or Government of the Fifteen, temporarily accompanied by the representatives of the 12 applicant countries, Turkey and Switzerland, adopt in Nice the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and approve a large number of amendments to be made to the Treaty on European Union.

On 7, 8 and 9 December 2000, at the end of the French Presidency, the European Council meeting in Nice decides on the amendments to be made to the Treaty on European Union. The photo shows (from left to right): Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission, Jacques Chirac, President of the French Republic, and his Prime Minister, Lionel Jospin.

On 7 December 2000, Michel Barnier, European Commissioner for Regional Policy and Institutional Reform, holds a press conference, during which he outlines the implications of the final negotiations on the Treaty of Nice, with particular regard to the European security and defence policy (ESDP) and enhanced cooperation.

On 7 December 2000, Chris Patten, European Commissioner for External Relations, comments on the progress made by the Nice European Council with regard to the European security and defence policy (ESDP).

On 7 December 2000, commenting on the items on the agenda of the Nice European Council, the French President, Jacques Chirac, outlines why he supports the establishment of a European Military Command independent of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).

On 7 December 2000, Günter Verheugen, European Commissioner for Enlargement, outlines the EU applicant countries’ concerns regarding the institutional reforms to be discussed by the Nice European Council.

On 7 December 2000, Nicole Fontaine, President of the European Parliament, emphasises the political and institutional implications of the Nice European Council.

At the end of the Nice European Council of 7–9 December 2000, the Fifteen symbolically proclaim the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and, in particular, take a stance on the European security and defence policy (ESDP), the European Social Agenda, the Statute for a European Company, maritime and food safety, sport within Europe and the reform of the Community’s legal and institutional system.

‘Garage in Nice.’ On 8 December 2000, during the Nice European Council, the German cartoonist, Horst Haitzinger, considers the difficulties facing the European Union in tackling its future political and institutional challenges.

‘Waiting for Father Christmas.’ On 9 December 2000, at the Nice European Council, German cartoonist Sakurai speculates on the European Union’s ability to meet its future institutional challenges. From bottom to top, Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission, Gerhard Schröder, German Chancellor, and Jacques Chirac, President of the French Republic and President-in-Office of the Council of the European Union.

In this interview, Nicole Fontaine, President of the European Parliament from 1999 to 2002, discusses the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2000.

In this interview, Pierre Moscovici, Minister for European Affairs in the French Foreign Ministry from 1997 to 2002, describes the negotiations held during the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union and at the Nice European Council of 7, 8 and 9 December 2000 which led to the signing of the Treaty of Nice on 26 February 2001.

In this interview, Hubert Védrine, former French Foreign Minister, discusses the negotiations that took place under the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2000. He focuses particularly on the European Council that was held in Nice from 7 to 9 December 2000 and led to the signing of the Treaty of Nice on 26 February 2001.

In December 2000, on the eve of the Nice European Council, the French monthly newspaper Le Monde Diplomatique questions whether the Heads of State or Government of the Fifteen will be able to find answers to the key questions facing the European Union.

Le 7 décembre 2000, le quotidien madrilène El País s'interroge sur l'action et sur les intentions de Romano Prodi, président de la Commission européenne, lors du Conseil européen de Nice des 7, 8 et 9 décembre.

On 7 December 2000, the German weekly newspaper Die Zeit analyses the political and institutional implications of the Nice European Summit (7, 8 and 9 December) and outlines the way in which the European Union will operate in the future.

On 9 December 2000, commenting on the Nice European Council (7, 8 and 9 December), the German daily newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung analyses the political and institutional implications of the meeting attended by the Heads of State or Government of the Fifteen.

On 8 December 2000, commenting on the Nice European Council (7, 8 and 9 December), the British daily newspaper The Guardian emphasises the determination of the countries of Eastern Europe to accede as soon as possible to the European Union.

On 11 December 2000, the French President, Jacques Chirac, his Prime Minister, Lionel Jospin, and Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission, inform the press of the results achieved at the Nice European Council.

On 12 December 2000, Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission, presents to the European Parliament the results achieved at the end of the Nice European Council of 7–9 December 2000.

On 12 December 2000, in Strasbourg, Jacques Chirac, President of the French Republic and President-in-Office of the Council of the European Union, summarises to Members of the European Parliament the achievements of the Nice European Council and of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

On 12 December 2000, in Strasbourg, Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission, outlines to Members of the European Parliament the successes and failures of the Nice European Council of 7–9 December and of the Treaty adopted there by the Heads of State or Government of the Fifteen.

On 12 December 2000, in Strasbourg, Hans-Gert Poettering, German leader of the Group of the European People’s Party (EPP), gives a critical evaluation to Members of the European Parliament of the outcome of the Nice European Council.

On 12 December 2000, in Strasbourg, Enrique Barón Crespo, Spanish Chairman of the Group of the Party of European Socialists (PES), outlines to Members of the European Parliament the inadequacy of the achievements of the Nice European Council.

On 12 December 2000, in Strasbourg, Pat Cox, Irish Chairman of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Group (ELDR), outlines to Members of the European Parliament the inadequacy of the achievements of the Nice European Council.

On 12 December 2000, in Strasbourg, Paul Lannoye, Belgian Chairman of the Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance, outlines to Members of the European Parliament the inadequacy of the achievements of the Nice European Council.

On 12 December 2000, in Strasbourg, Francis Wurtz, French Chairman of the Confederal Group of the European United Left/Nordic Green Left, outlines to Members of the European Parliament the inadequacy of the achievements of the Nice European Council.

On 12 December 2000, in Strasbourg, Charles Pasqua, French Chairman of the Union for Europe of the Nations Group, outlines to Members of the European Parliament the inadequacy of the achievements of the Nice European Council.

On 12 December 2000, following the Nice European Council, the Austrian daily newspaper Die Presse highlights the difficulties of the Heads of State or Government of the Fifteen in fulfilling their European responsibilities whilst at the same time seeking to defend their national interests.

Le 12 décembre 2000, au lendemain du Conseil européen de Nice des 7 au 9 décembre, le quotidien espagnol El País souligne l'accord positif mais paradoxal dégagé par les chefs d'État ou de gouvernement des Quinze.

‘The European Parade.’ On 12 December 2000, the German cartoonist Mohr comments ironically on the modest achievements of the Nice European Council and criticises in particular the attitude of the French President Jacques Chirac, depicted as a 'Gallic rooster' towards his European partners.

On 14 December 2000, Joschka Fischer, German Foreign Minister, gives his views on the outcome of the Nice European Council in the German daily newspaper Die Welt.

On 14 December 2000, following the Nice European Council, the German weekly newspaper Die Zeit criticises the limited scope of the decisions adopted at the end of the Nice European Council held on 7, 8 and 9 December.

On 18 December 2000, in an interview granted to the French daily newspaper Le Figaro, Jean-Louis Bourlanges, MEP for the UDF party, deplores the outcome of the Nice European Council.

‘In the waiting room …’ In December 2000, referring to the agenda of the Nice European Council, the German cartoonist, Walter Hanel, takes an ironic look at the slow pace of the process leading to the accession of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEECs) to the European Union.

On 19 January 2001, in the Bundestag, Joschka Fischer, German Foreign Minister, comments on the achievements of the Fifteen at the end of the European Council held on 7, 8 and 9 December 2000 in Nice.

‘Free sample.’ On 19 January 2001, following the government statement made by the German Federal Chancellor Gerhard Schröder on the outcome of the Nice European Council held on 7, 8 and 9 December 2000, the German cartoonist Mohr portrays the sceptical reaction of Friedrich Merz, leader of the political group CDU/CSU (Christian Democratic Party/Christian Social Party) in the Bundestag, to the disappointing results obtained by the Fifteen.

On 21 December 2000, Ferdinando Riccardi, Editor-in-Chief of Agence Europe in Brussels, gives an initial assessment of the Treaty of Nice and warns against the temptations of certain Member States to settle Community issues through intergovernmental processes.

In March 2001, Andrew Duff, Member of the European Parliament and spokesman on constitutional affairs for the Group of the European Liberal, Democrat and Reform Party (ELDR), criticises the work of the 2000 Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) and highlights the need for a new method in order to make better preparations for a new Constitutional Treaty.