A group of British MEP's has urged the UK Presidency to open meetings of the EU Council of Ministers to the public. Leaders of the five UK parties in parliament, including controversial UKIP member Nigel Farage, have signed a declaration calling for an end to "unacceptable" secret legislation.
Attempts to improve transparency in the EU have already seen an increase in the number of Council votes on EU law conducted publicly in the opening and closing phases of the co-decision procedure, along with better access to official documentation.
The UK foreign office has stated that a move to end legislative decision-making behind closed doors will be made in autumn. Thirteen member states need to approve the proposal for it to be carried through. The UK proposal will not apply to the European Council - the quarterly meeting of European heads of state - since it does not have formal legislative power.
