The Executive Committee of the Church and Society Commission of the Conference of European Churches has judged that the European Union reforms in the Treaty of Nice are insufficient to ensure a successful accession of new Member States.

Meeting in Brussels on 13 January, the Committee, made up of six members from six European countries, discussed a staff report on the Treaty. The Executive Committee also questioned whether the Treaty had gone far enough to increase public acceptance and understanding of the purposes of the European Union.

These judgements underlined the importance of the "deeper and wider debate about the future of the Union" which was also called for by the European Union Summit in Nice. "This is something which we called for when representatives met government ministers before the French and Swedish Presidencies of the EU," said Keith Jenkins, Director of the Church and Society Commission. "If there was agreement about the goals and purpose of the Union, perhaps the Nice Summit would have been more productive. It would be a tragedy if the values of peace and reconciliation which were at the origin of this project did not continue to play an essential role in the new situation in Europe and help to prevent the building of new barriers in Europe."

The Executive Committee encouraged European churches to participate in this debate, which will be launched during the Swedish and Belgian Presidencies during 2001. It also echoed doubts which have been widely expressed as to whether an Intergovernmental Conference was the best way to revise the Treaties. Commented Keith Jenkins: "The Treaties say that the EU is a 'union among the peoples of Europe', but so far there has been very little involvement of the European Parliament, national Parliaments and civil society in consultation about the content of treaties. Referenda after the event are no substitute for early participation in the process".