To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his European counterparts about institutional reform of the European Union. [79978]

Heads of Government met Mr. Prodi, the European Council's nominee for Commission President, on 14 April to discuss Commission reform. They agreed to take forward the reform process at the European Council in Cologne on 3–4 June on the basis of more detailed plans drawn up by Mr. Prodi.The timing of an Intergovernmental Conference to examine institutional reform prior to enlargement will be considered at the Cologne summit.The Government are pushing for profound reform of the way in which the Commission works. We believe that the Commission should be guided by the principles of efficiency, transparency and accountability. Achieving this will require changes in financial control systems, personnel management and structures.