Republican News · Thursday 17 October 2002

Treaty disadvantages Third World

Development group Comhlámh says it is concerned that the Nice Treaty will contribute to further marginalising the Third World. This will happen because Nice introduces changes in how Europe decides its trade policy.

Comhlámh says it understands the need for new decision-making structures in an Enlarged Europe, but points out that this transfer of additional power to the Council of Trade Ministers is not matched by any extra accountability.

"The Council of Trade Ministers has no collective accountability to the European Parliament or any other body. In this regard, Nice represents a backward step and a missed opportunity to increase public access to decision making.

"For developing countries this means their interests are again more vulnerable. Without accountability the European public will not have the opportunity to watch over the exercise of this new power. Experience shows that it is the poor countries who suffer most in this context.

"Trade interests are commercial interests, and where such power is not accountable, policy will be made to the benefit of the strong, squeezing the poorest. Where that happens vested interests will outweigh development concern." Said Conall Ó Caoimh, Policy Officer at Comhlámh.

"Democracy works on the basis of transferring power to leaders who are accountable. The problem Comhlámh finds with Nice is that the transfer of extra powers to the Trade ministers is not balanced by extra accountability - for example to the European Parliament," he said.

"Nice is a mixed basket of changes. What is good for Europe may be bad for the Third World. There is a link between what we do locally and what happens globally. Voters must be aware of this when judging the Treaty."