MPs call for greater EU 'openness'

A powerful Commons committee urged greater openness about the actions of the European Council - the quarterly gathering of the 27 EU heads, including Prime Minister Gordon Brown. It also revealed that some EU parliaments were given access to draft European Council documents which the Government withholds from the House of Commons.

In a heavily-critical report, the cross-party European Scrutiny Committee said the EU's top decision-making body made important decisions on areas such as the budget and enlargement which affected more than 500 million people.

But, despite claims the sessions are taped, there is no verbatim record of how conclusions are reached. The only records are based on secretary's notes, which are relayed to officials, who then try to advise their respective heads of government against bad decisions before it is too late.

Former foreign secretary Margaret Beckett told the committee's inquiry: "Occasionally it will be too late, because by the time you know what has happened, at least 20 minutes, probably more, have passed between what was discussed and you all knowing that it was discussed."

The committee said that parliaments, the press and the public were being denied the ability to scrutinise the Council's decisions.

"In our view, this is unsatisfactory and we recommend that the Government discuss with other member states the options for improving the process and removing the present inefficiencies and eccentricities; and, in particular, whether a clear, definitive and accessible record of the proceedings of the European Council should be made as a matter of course," it said.

The committee also said it was unconvinced by Government claims that it could not submit draft documents to Parliament because they were confidential and such a move would be impractical.

MPs learned during their inquiry that some national parliaments already received copies of the drafts, which were known to have a wide circulation in Brussels.

"It seems to us indefensible that the Westminster Parliament is denied access to the draft conclusions when some other national parliaments are provided with the draft conclusions by their governments and have the opportunity to question ministers about them before the meeting of the European Council," the committee said.