BECKETT WILL LOOK OUT OF TOUCH ON COUNCIL SECRECY - WALLIS

11.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 12th Jun 2006

Diana Wallis MEP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament, has given a stark warning to British Foreign Secretary, Margaret Becket, regarding the UK's commitment to openness in EU-decision making.

Speaking after having met with the Finnish Justice Minister as they prepare to take the EU presidency, she said:

"It was absolutely clear that openness and transparency were top of the Ministers' agenda in taking forward the leadership of the EU in her area and if Mrs Beckett thinks she has problems with the Austrian proposals she had better wait and see what the Finns have in mind.

Their whole culture of legislation is directed towards being citizen friendly and accessible and this is the working method they will be insisting on in Council, not just when it is in legislative mode either, so Mrs Beckett had better prepare for the winds of change from the north!

"I and other colleagues from the Parliament's Legal affairs Committee will be meeting the Minister again in Strasbourg this week and will be encouraging her to keep to her agenda and to keep the British government to their earlier promises."