A new parliamentary committee should be established to scrutinise the work of European commissioners, according to a Commons report.

The review, by the Commons modernisation committee, suggested a range of ways in which MPs can improve their scrutiny of European Union business.

Central to the recommendations was a call to establish a new committee - to be known as the parliamentary European committee (PEC) - to debate key EU issues.

It would consist of both MPs, peers and British members of the European parliament.

And EU commissioners, as well as British ministers, would be invited to make statements and respond to questions.

Former Labour MP and now trade commissioner Peter Mandelson has already indicated his willingness to participate in such a scheme.

The PEC would meet four times a year, suggests the cross-party modernisation committee.

In other areas, the report calls for the government to give the Commons greater notice of EU consultation exercises, and urges departmental select committees to play a bigger role in the scrutiny of Brussels' business.

There was also a welcome for moves to co-ordinate the work of various national parliaments in scrutinising the work of Commission.