German officials were expressing satisfaction last night as Berlin appeared certain to emerge from the Nice summit with most of its demands fulfilled and its status as the dominant force in European politics enhanced, writes Denis Staunton. Although the Chancellor, Mr Gerhard Schroder, failed to secure more votes in the decision-making Council of Ministers than other large member-states, he secured a clause that will put Germany in a far stronger position than any other EU country.
From now on, decisions will not only need the support of at least 73 per cent of the votes under the Council of Ministers' elaborate, weighted voting system. They must also have the backing of member-states representing at least 62 per cent of the total population of the EU.
This means that Germany will need the help of only two large states to block any measure, whereas each other member-state would require more allies. Germany's population of 82 million, combined with that of either France or Britain, accounts for 41 per cent of the EU's total population. Between them, France and Britain can only muster 35 per cent of the EU's population - not enough to block a decision.
Mr Schroder won a further victory by persuading his EU partners to agree to stage an inter-governmental conference in 2004 aimed at determining the future, constitutional shape of the EU. The chancellor needed to win his battle over this issue because the leaders of Germany's 16 federal states had warned him that, if he failed, they would refuse to ratify the Nice treaty in the upper house of parliament, the Bundesrat.
Mr Schroder is no admirer of the President of the European Commission, Mr Romano Prodi, but the collapse of the previous Commission convinced him that the President's powers should be enhanced. In accordance with the German proposal, Mr Prodi will now be allowed to sack Commissioners if they are failing to perform their duties properly.
The Chancellor was obliged to compromise on the issue of immigration and asylum, where he wished to retain a national veto. But he secured a delay of five years before qualified majority voting is extended to the issue. By then, Mr Schroder hopes that the EU will have developed a common policy on migration.