Brussels, 07/04/2005 (Agence Europe) - “You are a vital component of the European network available to us for linking European political challenges with the daily life of citizens”, Margot Wallström said on 6 April during the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) plenary session. The vice-president of the Commission for interinstitutional relations and information strategy insisted on the central role played by EESC members for “making the opinion of citizens go up” and acting as a “multiplier of European messages”.
Expected in June, the Commission's new information and communication strategy will seek to put an end to the “very fragmented approach” currently prevailing, in order to better face up to the “jungle of information”. The strategy will focus on “synergies between institutions and mainly on action”, Margot Wallström pointed out. She went on to add: “In order to be visible, we must be clear and concise. To be interesting, we must speak of subjects that interest the citizens. To be heard, we must repeat our messages”. In order to explain the European stakes to citizens, the Commissioner calls for “leadership”, which proves to be “more necessary than ever” at every level of political responsibility if one “wants to defend what has been successfully accomplished” and “describe our vision of the future”. We must also be able to recognise that we “make mistakes” and put an end to “our games of accusation”, Margo Wallström stressed. Otherwise, she said, the whole of the European project would be in “great danger”.
“We are ready!” to collaborate with the Commission, Jillian Van Turnhout (Various Interests, Ireland) said, echoing the enthusiasm that is felt by most EESC members when it comes to the challenge of informing citizens. Lief Nielsen (Various Interests, Denmark) put the comments of his colleagues into perspective, acknowledging his “impression” that the challenge of correctly informing European citizens is almost “an impossible task”. It is all a “question of trust” he said. As he sees it, citizens must be made to understand that cooperation between Europeans is the only way to maintain a high level of society. Henri Malosse (Employers, France) felt the European project should be “put in the hands of the citizens”. Rather than “failure in communication” one should speak of ”failure in consultation”, he added with reference to the controversy born around the proposal for a directive on services. He went on to regret that the Commission representative delegations in Member States do not always reserve the best welcome for the members of the EESC whom, he feels, are “received rather like strangers”.
Asked by Mario Sepi (Employers, Italy) about the Commission's nervousness to commit itself in the process for ratification of the Constitution, Ms Wallström replied that her institution intends to fully play its role. She recalled that the Commission may, during the ratification campaign, set up “ten actions” to support the Member States that so wish, including publication of copies of the European Constitution in all the official languages, the creation of thematic websites, or the future free telephone service, “Constitution Direct”. (See EUROPE 8878).