Blair met by MEPs' protests

5.44.13pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 26th Oct 2005

Tony Blair's arrival at the European Parliament was met by a demonstration of MEPs calling for the British Presidency to take a lead in opening up law-making debates by ministers.

Mr Blair told MEPs in his parliamentary address on June 23 that he thought there was "a strong case" for making the change, and promised to consider the idea. Europe Minister Douglas Alexander has since promised to consult other member states about the proposal.

Chris Davies, leader of the British Liberal Democrat MEPs who has been at the fore of the campaign, said that Britain needed to take the initiative and put the proposed change on the Council of Minister's agenda within the next few weeks.

He 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."