During the Strasbourg plenary session today the European Parliament reaffirmed its commitment to acquiring a true right of inquiry but given the difficulties that such progress causes among member states, invites the Council and the Commission to open an early dialogue on this issue to find common ground. Parliament, under the new Article 226 of the Treaty of Lisbon, wishes that in the future its inquiry committees will have full power to interrogate on oath the people involved, including government ministers.

Andrew DUFF (LibDem, UK), ALDE coordinator for the constitutional affairs committee, said: "Parliament needs to have a clear and strong right of enquiry that will be effective across the territory of the EU. We are learning from past experiences when our committees of enquiry were not able to conduct thorough investigations because of the opposition of several Member States. Commission and Council need to reach a satisfactory consensus with us which will reinforce the democratic legitimacy and effectiveness of the EP in addressing political controversies."
 
Anneli JÄÄTTEENMÄKI (Keskusta Suomen, Finland), ALDE spokesperson on this issue, added: " In the crisis time we need open, transparent, efficient and democratic Europe more than ever before. In particular, good governance and citizens' access to information and the EU decision making process are required. Strenthening  the European Parliament's right of inquiry increases the political control in the EU. The European Parliament shall use its strenghtened and extended powers carefully – as it has done in the past. One must not forget that the committee of inquiry consists of MEPs, and therefore, it has always a political nature. The doctrine of the separation of powers shall be respected. In order to prevent power from being abused, the legislature (parliament), the executive (government) and the judiciary (the law courts) shall be separate from one another."