Televised meetings 'to restore public faith'

Plans to televise meetings of ministers and shorten summits of European leaders will be agreed today as part of a package designed to restore public faith in the EU.

The move has been backed by Tony Blair and his German counterpart, Gerhard Schröder, who fear the remoteness of the EU has created a dangerous gulf between the Union and its citizens. However, other proposed reforms, including a plan to streamline the work of EU foreign ministers and a scheme to have more majority voting when EU leaders meet, were still being held up at the Seville summit last night.

Reformers admitted that large-scale changes would have to be put on hold until a new EU treaty is drawn up in 2004. These could include a British and French idea to appoint a new president for the European Council to become a new figurehead for the EU.

Television cameras would only be allowed into meetings when legislation is proposed and when final voting takes place.