Strasbourg, 22/01/2004 (Agence Europe) - The European Ombudsman, Nikiforos Diamandouros has begun an investigation, following a complaint by German Christian Democrat Elmar Brok, member of the EP and a representative of a CDU youth group, alleging a lack of transparency at the Council in its legislative activity. The complaint focuses on the fact that Council meetings on its legislative activity are not public except for the provisions contained n Articles 8 and 9 of the Council's internal regulation. The plaintiffs consider that the internal regulation does not comply with Article 1, paragraph 2 of the Treaty of the European Union, which stipulates that decisions are taken in the greatest respect for openness possible. They are demanding a revision of this regulation so that Council legislative meetings are held in public. The European Ombudsman requested the Council to inform it about its decision on this complaint by 31 March.