EMB meetings that are open to the public may promote greater trust in the EMB. Where meetings are open to the public by law, it is important that the EMB publicizes the dates of its meetings. It is also important that it cooperates with the police to ensure the maintenance of security and protocol during EMB sessions. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lithuania and Moldova, the law provides for EMB meetings to be open to members of the public, and members of the public may record or film EMB sessions provided that such activities do not disrupt the proceedings. In Lithuania, EMB meetings are broadcast live on their website. In Guam, the EMB holds a public meeting at 4 p.m. on the third Thursday of every month.
In South Africa, EMB meetings are closed to any person who is not a member, unless he or she attends by special invitation, and often only for a specific item. Closed EMB meetings may allow more open discussion, especially on sensitive matters, and members do not have to fear public reprisals for personal views on any matter brought before the EMB. Decisions can be presented as agreed upon by the entire EMB, with no report on how close the vote was, and so give a unified voice to the EMB, similar to the idea of cabinet decisions in the Westminster model. However, closed meetings reduce the transparency of EMB decision-making and can lead to public suspicions about the influences on the EMB. Any closed EMB meetings need to be followed quickly by a public announcement or media conference on their deliberations and results.
Decisions taken during each meeting still need to be publicized, and the law often specifies that certain decisions must be included in the formal gazette or government newsletter. Many EMBs list all decisions on their website.
