To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the role is of the European Union working group of national communications experts; what she expects the (a) format and (b) agenda of the next meeting of the group to be; and if she will make a statement. (133082)

The role of the Council’s Information Working Group is to examine the information policy and communication strategy of the EU, to assess ways to increase transparency and openness of the Institutions, to provide access to documents and to promote co-operation between institutions.

The Information Working Group is composed of delegates of the 27 EU member states, representatives of the General Secretariat of the Council and representatives of the European Commission. Meeting agendas contain a list of topics and references to documents on which discussions will be held.

The Working Group on Information meets every two weeks in principle. The next meeting is scheduled for 10 May. The agenda for this meeting has not yet been circulated.