Elspeth Attwooll MEP challenges Blair on EU secrecy

2.22.34pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 15th Jun 2006

As British PM Tony Blair travels to a European Summit today, accused of leading the fight to keep secretive EU law-making, Elspeth Attwooll, MEP for Scotland, criticises Britain's position on the issue.

Proposals to make debates, when Ministers discuss draft European laws, open to public view have been tabled by Austria, the current holder of the EU Presidency.

And, although they command the support of a majority of EU nations, progress is unlikely if Britain maintains its strong opposition.

Elspeth, who has long been backing efforts to secure more open decision-taking, describes the British position as a 'backward step.'

The Liberal Democrat MEP argues that decisions must not be made behind closed doors, because the House of Commons has no power to amend EU laws made jointly by Ministers and MEPs.

Elspeth said: "How can Ministers be held to account if we do not know what they say on our behalf when acting as lawmakers in Brussels?

"Most European governments want the doors thrown open. It is shameful that Britain should be working so hard to keep the secretive old ways."

The scene has now been set for a major disagreement with countries like Austria and Finland, which see no reason for secretive practices, as they remain set against Britain and its French allies on the issue, even though UK Foreign Secretary, Margaret Beckett, argued, earlier this week, that negotiations behind closed doors were sometimes essential for efficient and effective law-making