§ Baroness Harris of Richmondasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the effect of changes to Articles 137 and 144 of the treaty establishing the European Community to be made by the Treaty of Nice, in particular the extension of the list of matters in Article 137(1) and the creation, in Article 144, of a Social Protection Committee. [HL1458]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalThe Treaty of Nice extends the list of matters in Article 137(1) to include the modernisation of social protection systems. This is limited to co-operation between member states (such as the exchange of information and best practice): the harmonisation of legislation is explicitly excluded.
New Article 144 provides a legal base for a non-legislative committee to monitor the development of social protection policies in the member states and to promote the exchange of information and experience between them. The establishment of the committee was agreed at the Lisbon European Council. This amendment merely gives it a formal legal base.