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Three challenges face the European Union at the dawn of the new century: (1) expansion or the challenge of effectiveness -- a problem of method including the institutional questions that are at the center of the negotiations leading toward Nice; (2) globalization or the challenge of power -- how to unite economic & political globalization & how to influence the formation of its rules; & (3) opinion or the challenge of the legitimacy of democracy -- how to discourage the opinion that Europe is far away & bureaucratic, & how to communicate a vision. The author concludes that even before Nice, we are already beginning to perceive what could be after Nice. E. Sanchez

This outlook constitutes a symbolic date for the institutional revival of the European Union, namely, the Economic & Monetary Union (EMU). The author describes the institutional assessment of the Treaty of Amsterdam & the procedure of revision & elaborates on questions regarding a new democracy, a European government, & the judicial function. It stands to reason that the relative failure of the Treaty of Amsterdam was due to the absence of a feeling of urgency by several participants in the negotiations. E. Sanchez

To better understand the issues of this debate, the challenges of the current period are discussed: the persistent inefficiencies of the European institutions, the challenges of a single currency, & EU enlargement. Within the framework of these long-term references, it becomes possible to examine the implications of the democratization of institutions, the rationalization of the European politics, & the evaluation of the program of the next intergovernmental conference. The Treaty of Amsterdam has been a fine revision of the Treaty of Maastricht, but a poor preparation for the enlargement. The fundamental question is how to avoid another failure, because the next intergovernmental conference is the last revision of treaties before the enlargement. A number of member states tend toward launching a short & limited reform. Inherent risks are found in such an approach, including the degradation of social & fiscal regulations. 12 References. E. Sanchez