MEETINGS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

Early day motion 760, tabled 12 October 2005 by Nick Clegg (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 62 members.

That this House condemns the practice of the Council of Ministers, the most senior law-making body of the European Union, of meeting in secret to debate new legislation despite the acceptance of every EU head of Government that it should deliberate in public when considering legislative acts; notes that a cross party consensus of the five UK national delegations in the European Parliament have tabled a Written Declaration on Ending Council Secrecy and in support of this calls on the 25 member states of the General Affairs Council to force the Council of Ministers to meet in public via a change in the Council's rules of procedure; calls on the Government to use its current presidency of the EU to make this change; and believes that in doing so national parliaments will be better able to hold Ministers to account for their actions, openness and transparency will be promoted and the legitimacy and efficacy of the European Union will be strengthened.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 42, Labour 13, Conservative 6, Plaid Cymru 1.