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Lib Dem MEPs give Tony Blair rough ride in Strasbourg
October 27, 2005 12:33 PM
Tony Blair's arrival at the European Parliament in Strasbourg yesterday was met by a demonstration of Liberal Democrat 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 in June 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.
Local Liberal Democrat MEP Diana Wallis who was part of the demonstration which greeted Tony Blair as he arrived to make his address, said:
"The UK needs to take the initiative and put the proposed change on the agenda of the Council of Minister's meeting within the next few weeks.
"The point about this openness is that national MPs, including those at Westminster, cannot hold ministers to account if they don't know what is being said in their country's name.
"The UK'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."
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