29/12/2005 (Agence Europe) - Henrik Kröner, Secretary General of the International European Movement, has issued a press release in which he welcomes the decision of the Council of the European Union to hold its debates and votes on issues under co-decision with the Parliament in public in future (see EUROPE 9095 for more on this decision, towards which many members of the European Parliament have been working for a long time). This decision is "a decisive step towards a more democratic and transparent European Union", particularly as the vast majority of European legislation is currently adopted in co-decision, said Mr Kröner. He went on to note that "it is to be hoped that the decision of the Council in favour of more openness will give wings to the governments of the EU to build a stronger united Europe, and to regain confidence in Europe, at a time when we need it the most urgently".