Massive protests mar Nice Summit

By Vaiju Naravane

NICE (FRANCE), DEC. 7. The European Union's 15 Heads of State and Government began their summit meeting in the southern French resort town of Nice on Thursday as demonstrators clashed violently with the police, resulting in injuries and massive material damage. Nice is covered in a blanket of fine drizzle and tight security with hundreds of sharpshooters taking positions on roofs.

The demonstrators, who had gathered in Nice from different parts of the world, burnt cars and broke several shop windows and set fire to a bank as they attacked the heavily armed riot police.

The President, Mr. Jacques Chirac, the Prime Minister, Mr. Lionel Jospin, and the European Union's President, Mr. Romano Prodi, in a joint press conference, condemned the violence. ``There have been serious incidents. Policemen have been attacked, shops broken and the demonstrators have tried to hamper the proceedings of the summit. Such acts go against the principles which the demonstrators are trying to defend'', Mr. Chirac said.

The 15 E.U. leaders held a meeting in the morning with representatives of 14 countries which are candidates for membership of the European Union. Mr. Chirac said the talks had been extremely positive.

Mr. Prodi said the summit was taking place at a critical stage for Europe. Reform, he said, was absolutely essential. He also said that Europe was determined to proceed as quickly and as transparently as possible with a great sense of responsibility towards its enlargement. ``We have political obligations but also a moral one to ensure that this summit meeting is a success''.

The demonstrators, who flooded the streets of Nice, are demanding greater guarantees in terms of wages, job security, health care, pensions and similar benefits known as the social chapter. However, it is not evident that an agreement will be reached easily and the summit is likely to be marked by tensions.

Big countries such as France, Germany and Britain appoint two of the 20 European Commissioners (Ministers). A new system will be required to cope with the enlargement which will go upto 27 states. Smaller countries such as Ireland or Austria insist that they would like to retain the Commissioners they already have. Twenty per cent of the decisions still require unanimous approval and the summit is expected to allow decisions by a system known as Qualified Majority Voting (QMV). However, Britain and Luxembourg want to retain a veto on issues of national interest. None of the 15 can agree on the issue whether the veto should be retained.

Mr. Prodi sounded a cautious note and said that an agreement would have to be reached with everybody making compromises. He would, however, not pronounce himself on an absolutely positive outcome. The summit officially ends on Saturday, but is likely to carry on upto Sunday night or even to the early hours of Monday so that a final document can emerge.

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Section  : International
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