| Author (Person) | Banks, Martin |
|---|---|
| Series Title | European Voice |
| Series Details | Vol.9, No.29, 11.9.03, p3 |
| Publication Date | 11/09/2003 |
| Content Type | News |
|
Date: 11/09/03 By Martin Banks A EUROPEAN Parliament report which contends that the EU's three major institutions have created a "culture of openness" is being called into question by business chiefs. The claim was made by UK Socialist MEP Michael Cashman, whose report on access to documents and transparency was adopted by Parliament's citizens' rights committee this week. Cashman said the European Commission, Council of Ministers and European Parliament had achieved major improvements in making documents available. "I believe we have created a climate of trust between the three main institutions and the public and we have to build on this," he said. His report accepts, however, that there is still room for some improvement, including making the Commission's public registers more user-friendly and making Parliamentary committee documents more accessible. "All too often, access to these documents depends on who you know on that particular committee. Obtaining such material is vital if we are to bridge the EU's so-called democratic deficit and I am saying we should make access easier, for example, by making European Parliament committee documents available in all official languages of the EU." Cashman's reference to a "culture of openness" was challenged by the British Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and the Society of European Affairs Professionals. The two groups issued a position paper on the issue this week which, while acknowledging that some improvements had taken place, added: "In practice, we still perceive there to be a general lack of will for endorsing real change." MEPs will vote on Cashman's report at their next plenary session in Strasbourg (22-25 September). UK MEP, Michael Cashman, has claimed that the European Commission, the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament have made significant progress in making documents publicly available. |
|
| Related Links |
|
| Subject Categories | Politics and International Relations |
