Rochdale MEP lifts veil of secrecy

Date published: 22/12/2005

Rochdale Euro-MP Chris Davies has welcomed a decision by EU ministers to approve British plans to lift the veil of secrecy which cloaks their discussions.

Chris Davies has been campaigning since June to introduce more openness into the proceedings of government ministers meeting in Brussels.

Leaders of all parties in the European Parliament, including North West Labour MEP Gary Titley, joined with him last September in calling for the UK to take the initiative while it held the EU Presidency in opening up sessions of the Council of Ministers to public scrutiny.

As a result, Europe Minister Douglas Alexander promised to consult with other governments about possible changes.

Now, in a final act before Britain steps down from the hot seat, ministers have agreed to a series of measures to extend arrangements to allow the public to monitor their discussions in Brussels.

But the plans fall short of the MEPs' demand for a change in rules to ensure that meetings will be open to the public whenever ministers debate draft new EU laws, although they suggest that a future Austrian or Finnish Presidency may take the initiative.

Chris Davies, leader of the British Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament, said that an opportunity had been missed to allow greater scrutiny of EU decision-taking.

The MEP, who has raised the issue twice with the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, said that a key aspect of EU law-making would continue to take place behind closed doors.

He said: "The chance for Britain to strike a strong blow in favour of openness and transparency has been missed.  Ministers have been helpful but have not gone far enough.

"It will be left to the whim of whoever sits in the Presidency chair to decide whether or not the public should be allowed to listen to debates between ministers.  The microphones will be left on when the Swedes are in charge and turned off whenever the French take control.

"The pity is that Britain had a chance to make a permanent change and gain credit for being on the side of the citizen.  To change the standing orders only 13 votes out of 25 are needed, but it has never been put to a vote."

Every European Head of Government accepted the principle that ministers should debate legislative acts in public when they signed the Constitutional Treaty.  The change is seen as crucial if national parliaments are to be able to hold ministers to account.

Chris Davies says that he will continue the campaign to secure the reform. Early in January he intends to raise the issue with the Chancellor of Austria, the country next taking over the mantle of EU leadership.