Obiter dived into the belly of Europe last week, attending a criminal justice debate at the European Parliament &150; and what a lesson in the bizarre ways of the EU it was. Just as the new president of the Council of the Law Societies and Bars of the European Union, Paris-based lawyer Bernard Vatier, was getting into the stride of his presentation to an audience of about 100 MEPs, the doors were flung open and in streamed a team of five liveried waiters. With precision timing they served coffee, tea and biscuits to all &150; including the 30-odd translators (who, to be fair, were probably the most deserving). Later in the debate, several MEPs unpacked their lunches and began nibbling on sandwiches and apples. Perhaps an old-fashioned tea lady is what is needed in the Commons debating chamber at Westminster. It was also interesting to see the perception of the British legal aid system through continental eyes. At least two contributions to the criminal justice debate at the parliament went along these lines: 'There is only one country in the EU where there is an adequately functioning legal aid system and a system in which lawyers are appropriately and sufficiently remunerated &150; the UK.' Music to the ears of the Legal Services Commission and the Lord Chancellor.