Political Bosses back London MEP

10.16.37am GMT Tue 6th Sep 2005

Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament have won strong cross-party support for their campaign to force ministers to debate new EU laws in public.

In a remarkable and unique display of unity, the leaders of all the UK political groups in the European Parliament have joined together in demanding that Britain use its current presidency of the EU to inject new openness into decision-making.

A joint declaration in the Parliament (and a letter to The Times) has been signed not only by the Conservative and Labour leaders, MEPs Timothy Kirkhope and Gary Titley joining Liberal Democrat Chris Davies MEP, but also by UKIP's Nigel Farage and the Green Party's Jean Lambert.

Sarah Ludford, deputy leader of the British Liberal Democrat MEPs, commented:

"This cooperation shows the European Parliament at its best. Instead of point-scoring against opponents, MEPs can bridge party differences when we share common cause."

"It is quite wrong for ministers to make new EU laws in secret. Public confidence requires that openness and transparency should be the norm. It is also essential if Westminster MPs are to hold ministers to account for what they say in Britain's name in Brussels."

"This united stand by British political bosses in Europe should increase pressure on Tony Blair to bring about change by the end of the year, during the UK's EU Presidency."

Notes

• Europe's most powerful law-making body is the Council of Ministers, on which every EU government is represented. EU laws are drafted by the European Commission. They are then amended or rejected by (in most cases) the European Parliament which meets in public and (in all cases) by the Ministers, who deliberate behind closed doors.

• Every EU prime minister made a commitment to change to debating laws in public when they signed the Constitutional Treaty, so this is not new policy.

• To make the transition requires a simple amendment to the standing orders of ministerial meetings. This requires the support of just 13 of Europe's 25 member states.