11/04/2006 (Agence Europe) - European Ombudsman Nikiforos Diamandouros has welcomed the decision by the European Parliament calling on the Council to open more of its debates to the public (see EUROPE 9168). The Parliamentary vote followed the Ombudsman's special report, submitted in October 2005, which called for the Council to review its refusal to meet publicly when acting in its legislative capacity. “Taking decisions as openly as possible is the best way to bring citizens closer to...