This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Call for transparency in European governance
09/07/2002
Europe needs to open up its decision-making to bring Government closer to the citizens, First Minister Jack McConnell said in Brussels today.
At a meeting of the the Commission for Constitutional Affairs and European Governance of the Committee of Regions, Mr McConnell said:
"The Scottish Parliament has made real progress over the past three years to make the process of Government in Scotland more open and accountable to the people. Europe must now do the same."
The First Minister outlined a proposed series of measures to open up EU decision-making, including:
- Greater involvement for public bodies closest to the citizens, including devolved Governments
- More systematic, early dialogue between the Commission and implementing bodies
- That the Council of Ministers meet in public when agreeing EU legislation
- Greater use of framework legislation, leaving the detail to implementing authorities such as Member States and devolved Governments
He added:
"The European Union is key to our security and our economic and social well-being. We must ensure that those affected by EU decision making have a greater ownership of laws and policies agreed at European level. Making European government more transparent will improve European laws and build a stronger, more effective Europe for the future."
Mr McConnell was outlining initial proposals he plans to include in the draft opinion on More Democracy, Transparency and Efficiency in the European Union he has been asked to prepare on their behalf. The report, following consultation within the Committee and with others, will be finalised in the autumn and will be reflected in the view given by the Committee of the Regions to the Convention on the Future of Europe which is preparing proposals for treaty changes when new Member States join the Union in 2004.
