June start to debates to ratify treaty

According to the EU leaders' timetable, the Nice Treaty must be ratified by all 15 EU member-states before the end of 2002. Ireland is the only member-state to hold a referendum on the treaty.

The French National Assembly and Senate will debate the treaty next month and it is likely to pass through all stages before the summer break. In Denmark, despite an energetic, Eurosceptic minority, the treaty is likely to be approved by parliament before the end of June.

In Finland the process begins next month with a debate in parliament. There is then a committee stage, before the measure returns to parliament for a vote in the autumn.

Germany's two chambers of parliament, the Bundestag and the Bundesrat, will consider the treaty in the autumn and it is likely to be approved before the end of this year.

Italy's recent change of government has created uncertainty about the timetable for ratification.

If Britain's Labour government returns to power next week, the treaty will be ratified some time during the next parliamentary session.

The European Parliament will vote on the treaty today and, although many MEPs complain that it does not go far enough in reforming EU institutions, it is expected to be approved.

In the run-up to the Treaty of Nice referendum, The Irish Times website, ireland.com, will provide full daily news coverage, with analysis and political, social and economic commentary. The Treaty of Nice site also features a guide to the treaty, with accessible coverage of the major issues and details on the accession states. The site can be accessed at: http://www.ireland.com/special/nice/