Secretive ‘trialogue’ talks to agree EU law face investigation

In an interview with EurActiv, European Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly revealed that three-way talks between the major European institutions to broker deals on European Union's law - also know as trialogue meetings - face being investigated over their lack of transparency by the bloc’s maladministration watchdog.

Ms O’Reilly said there were concerns over the opacity of the decision-making process when deals on proposed EU legislation are hammered out.

Trialogues happen after the European Parliament and Council of the European Union agreed their respective positions on a pending piece of legislation. The series of negotiations, which the European Commission sits in on, work towards agreeing a final compromise text. Both Parliament and Council must agree an identical text before it becomes law.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Secret EU lawmaking: the triumph of the trialogue http://www.europeansources.info/record/secret-eu-lawmaking-the-triumph-of-the-trialogue/

EUObserver, 23.04.15: EU ombudsman to announce probe into secret law-making https://euobserver.com/news/128428

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