Challenge to Blair on EU Council Secrecy

2.39.31pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 26th Oct 2005

Lib Dems Chris Davies MEP, Sarah Ludford MEP, Fiona Hall MEP , Sharon Bowles MEP at the protest

Tony Blair was challenged on his arrival at the European Parliament in Strasbourg today to allow greater public scrutiny of the Brussels law-making process.

Europe's most powerful law-making body is the Council of Ministers but its deliberations take place behind closed doors.

Sharon Bowles Liberal Democrat MEP for the South East called on the UK Prime Minister to use his Presidency of the EU to put the principles of transparency and openness into practice.

Sharon Bowles carried a banner demanding that "laws should not be made in secret," and will remind him that every EU head of government made a commitment to change the procedures when they signed the draft constitutional treaty.

A simple alteration in the Council's standing orders, requiring the votes of just 13 member states, is all that is required to implement the agreement. It is a small change with potentially huge significance for improving understanding of the way in which the EU works.

Sharon Bowles said:

"National MPs cannot hold ministers to account if they don't know what is being said in their country's name."

"Britain's EU presidency ends in just two months and many people feel there is little to show for it so far. Tony Blair can improve the reputation both of Britain and of Europe if he takes the initiative to put the principles of openness and transparency into practice."