The applicant countries are now waiting for the Irish people to approve the Nice treaty. The changes included in the treaty protect and enhance the interests of the smaller member states. Under the proposed reform of the European Commission Ireland will be given the same rights of representation as Germany, France, Spain, Italy and Britain. These five countries will lose one of their two nominees to the European Commission after 2004. It is beyond me how anyone can say that Ireland will lose its place on the Commission as Ireland and the other smaller member states are doing very well out of its reform.