MEPs take further step towards transparency (Batley and Spen Liberal Democrats)

Batley and Spen Liberal Democrats <kath.pinnock@kirklees.gov.uk>

MEPs take further step towards transparency

January 14, 2009 5:34 PM
Originally published by Diana Wallis MEP

Diana in front of the European Parliament building in Brussels Diana Wallis MEP, Vice-President of the European Parliament in charge of transparency, who has championed the issue of openness and access to documents in the European Union, welcomed the Parliament's decision at her instigation to publish on its internet site in collated form information about all Members' attendance at plenary and committee meetings.

Speaking after the vote in plenary on the Cappato report, Diana Wallis said:

"Making such public information more accessible is a modest step for the Parliament to take, but it is an important one, particularly ahead of the next elections in June. Citizens need to have the tools to keep their elected representatives to account.

"It is good that this report is exactly in line with the decision taken by Parliament's Bureau at my instigation on Monday of this week. We now have the politics and administration of transparency in step in our institution - in stark contrast with many national parliaments."

Notes

The Parliament's Bureau took the decision on 12 January 2009.

Liberal colleague Marco Cappato's report on access to documents of the European Parliament, Commission and Council, also calling for such a move, was adopted today by a majority of MEPs .