By Gemma Lougheed - 5th December 2005
France is leading opposition to British plans to allow TV cameras into legislative debates at councils of EU ministers.
The British EU presidency and UK Prime Minister Tony Blair argues there is a strong case for the ‘Council of the EU’ to legislate in public.
In a bid to bring the EU closer to its citizens, Blair wants to allow camera crews into more inter-governmental sessions of 25 ministers legislating in policy areas such as justice or transport.
But France last week indicated that it had grave reservations about the plan, which now looks likely to disappear from the agenda until at least the second half of 2006.
French officials believe that transparency is a good thing in principle, they fear that in the presence of a TV crew, ministers will resort to making deals outside of the ministerial chamber in the corridors of power.
The council shares legislative power with the European Parliament, which does sits in public and MEPs have called for more openness in ministerial meetings.
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