Graham Watson MEP calls on UK Government to back open decision making in Europe

12.39.22pm GMT Thu 15th Feb 2007

Graham Watson, Leader of the 106 Liberal Democrat MEPs, is calling on the British Government to make the British Parliament fully informed on European Affairs by giving it access to all European Commission and European council documents. This comes following a deal struck by the German Government with the German Parliament (Bundestag) whereby German MPs will have full access to the many Commission and Council working groups where many EU laws are decided, often behind closed doors.

Commenting, Graham said:

"We will never conquer euro-scepticism in Britain until EU laws are seen to be made in an open and transparent way. The UK Parliament is a long way behind the German Parliament since British MPs do not have access to crucial decision making documents.

"Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett has already expressed her desire for all Ministerial deliberations to be made behind closed doors, but in doing so she is showing how out of step the UK is on this issue. If the UK Parliament is not allowed to scrutinise the EU law-making process then the least that can be done is to make clear what British representatives are negotiating on its behalf."