Parliamentary Accountability And The European Council Of Ministers

EDM number 209 in 1993-94, proposed by Harry Barnes on 08/12/1993.

That this House notes with concern a continuing ministerial reticence to indicate the voting records of each Member State when reporting on European Community Council of Minister meetings; further notes that this contradicts commitments to transparency and accountability made at European Heads of State meetings as well as the Prime Minister's own promise, Official Report, 20th May, column 252, that all Departments are being advised that statements to the House following meetings of the Council of Ministers should include details of the vote, whenever a formal vote is taken in Council, or should record that no formal votes were taken; notes, as an example, the Written Answer given by the President of the Board of Trade on the EC Internal Market Council of 11th November, Official Report, 24th November, column 92, in which he reports without revealing voting records that the Council had formally adopted three food additive common positions and agreed a common position on equipment for use in explosive atmospheres; deplores the fact that it was only in response to a pursuant question from the honourable Member for North East Derbyshire, Official Report, 2nd December, column 739, that it was revealed that the common position on colours had been adopted by a qualified majority, while the common position on equipment for use in explosive atmospheres had been adopted unanimously; and calls upon all government departments automatically to provide full information on the voting record of each Member State as a means of improving the accountability of Parliament over EC decision-making.

This motion has been signed by a total of 32 MPs.