08/01/2010 (Agence Europe) - The Union of European Federalists (UEF) and its Europe Group launched a public awareness-raising campaign at a seminar on Thursday 7 January 2010 at the Brussels headquarters of the European Parliament on the process of implementing the Lisbon Treaty. MEP Andrew Duff, who chairs the UEF, and Jacques Santer, chair of Europe Group, explained the benefits of the Lisbon Treaty and the fact that people needed to receive clear and regular information about it. UEF's Europe Group is intending to contribute to this by organising events at its local and national sections to provide information to the general public in all the member states on the new rights they have been granted under the Lisbon Treaty either directly or indirectly by their representatives being given greater power, particularly MEPs. Paolo Ponzano, former director at the European Commission's Secretariat General, will be responsible for the information to be provided to the public through federalist organisations. He said that his aim is to bring the EU closer to citizens by making it more understandable. (F.R./transl.fl)