One extra achievement of the UK Presidency just before it finished - which therefore went almost unnoticed - is the new agreement that the EU Council of Ministers will hold its co-decision discussions and votes on proposed EU legislation in public, with immediate effect.

This meets a long-standing demand of the European Parliament, which considers that votes on legislation should be in public in both branches (Council and Parliament) of the EU legislature. How else can the public see who is accountable for decisions and national parliaments control their country's minister? Of course, the results of votes were already published, but this extra transparency is an important improvement.

Only a few months ago, the leaders of the Labour, Liberal, Conservative, Green and even UKIP MEPs signed a joint letter supporting this. Will they be united in their applause? Don't count on it!