COUNCIL OF MINISTERS: UK PRESIDENCY SOUNDS OUT MEMBER STATES ON TRANSPARENCY.

A British Presidency spokesman said that other member states were "interested" in the UK's initiative and had agreed to reflect further on it. He pointed out that the issue would be discussed by EU European Affairs Ministers when they meet on November 7. He added that the UK was consulting with the forthcoming Austrian Presidency because it would be up to them to take forward any proposals.

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said he was "open to the idea" of greater transparency in Council meetings when he addressed the European Parliament in June. Since then a cross-party group of UK MEPs, senior German MEP Elmar Brok, the European Ombudsman and...