EUROPEAN UNION DECISION MAKING: OPENNESS

HL Deb 22 July 1994 vol 557 c54WA

Lord Clinton-Davis

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What progress has been made in the implementation of promises made by the Council of Ministers of the European Union, following the Edinburgh Summit, to guarantee public access to information on decision-making by the member states.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

To implement the Edinburgh European Council agreements on openness and transparency, the Council has taken the following steps:

Since December 1993, votes on all legislative decisions are published automatically, unless the Council decides otherwise;

A code of conduct on access to documents has been adopted jointly with the Commission. The Council has been releasing documents since January 1994; and the Commission since February;

Open, televised debates are held on Presidency and Commission work programmes, and on the first stage of legislative proposals;

Much more detailed press releases are available at the end of Council meetings.