” “"The accession process is an exceptional tool to offer opportunities for the promotion of children’s rights" by boosting reforms for the protection of children or keeping an eye on international adoptions. This statement made by the Commission was urged by a recent written question asked by the British MEP Catherine Stihler to the EU Executive Committee. It is an example of the subjects addressed by "Questions in Parliament", a tool used to "obtain specific information on specific subjects or lead to take position about something". Yesterday, the press office of the EU Parliament published statistics about this form of "democratic monitoring", specifying that "last year, over five thousand questions were asked by MEPs to the EU Commission and Council". "About one hundred questions a week, but the trend is steadily increasing". "Working children, asylum, crime, electronic games, violation of rights" in different countries. "These are reads the press release some of the subjects addressed by the members of the European Parliament in the questions" sent to the other EU bodies, and in September 2006 alone Parliament received 592 answers.” “
