SOUTH EAST MEP'S CAMPAIGN PAYS OFF AS GORDON BROWN GOES LIVE

8.04.03am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 11th Jul 2006

Sharon Bowles and Fiona Hall (Sharon's Liberal Democrat colleague for the North West) protest during Tony Blair's visit to Strasbourg.

A successful campaign by a South East Euro-MP to bring greater openness to EU business will be marked today (Tuesday) when a debate between European finance ministers is broadcast live on the internet.

It will be the first time ever that discussion between government ministers meeting in Brussels will be transmitted across the world.

But many viewers in the UK hoping to see a picture of Gordon Brown's empty chair will be disappointed.

Britain's Chancellor has a notoriously poor record of attendance at the meetings of the EU's Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN), preferring instead to issue a written statement.

The meeting will discuss the Finnish Presidency's programme for the next six months but it is likely that Gordon Brown will avoid any embarrassing pictures. The Finns have decided that cameras will only be directed at ministers actually speaking in the discussion.

EU Heads of Government agreed last month that all ministers should meet in public when they debate draft new laws, and that the principle of openness should be applied at other times when appropriate.

The new arrangements, which are on a trial 6-month basis, have been welcomed by Sharon Bowles MEP from the Liberal Democrats, who led an all-party campaign to secure the change.

She said: "Now that the decision has been made I don't see the doors ever being closed again.

"It's an important step forward for Europe and for democracy. If MPs in national parliaments are to hold Ministers to account they need to know what is said in Brussels on their country's behalf.

"This will be quite a culture change for many Governments. It is very easy for politicians to talk of the need for openness and transparency, but a lot harder for some to accept that the principles will actually be put into practice."

"I doubt if 'Government Ministers - Live' will make great TV but the broadcast of their discussions is a step forward for European democracy."

The change in procedure is the first agreement by Heads of Government to accept a specific demand included within the EU Constitutional Treaty, which insisted that deliberations between Ministers about draft new EU laws should take place in public.

Sharon Bowles commented: "I hope this brings to an end the nonsense that no part of the Constitution should be accepted without a referendum. No-one in Holland or France voted against the treaty because they wanted more secrecy. Europe has moved on."

The internet video link can be found by accessing 'Council of the European Union' then 'Council Live'. The meeting is due to start at 09.15 UK time.

ENDS