Strasbourg, 13/05/2005 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday, the European Parliament adopted by a large majority (398 for, 55 against and 54 abstentions) the report by Luis Francisco Herrero-Tejedor (EPP/ED, Spain) on the implementation of the EU's information and communication strategy. Invited for the first time to discuss upstream of the launching of such a strategy, he hopes to play an active role and asks to be able to discuss the matter each year on an annual basis. The Commission considers that “June” is the right moment for publication of its internal action plan and the White Paper on this strategy (see EUROPE 8933).
Presenting his paper to MEPs, Luis Francisco Herrero-Tejedor pointed out that the EU should be made “appetising” and “sexy”. He noted “five points of agreement” with the Commission: citizens must be kept informed about the way the EU operates, a powerful message in favour of European commitment should be sent out, information sources should be decentralised, actors should become professional, and interinstitutional collaboration at European level should be improved as well as between the EU and the national, regional and local levels. The report also stresses that the information and communication campaign on the Constitution should be the number one priority. On this point, the European institutions have the duty to inform citizens in full clarity and objectivity.
Margot Wallström considers that “apathy and ignorance” are the “enemies” of the efforts that the EU is making on information. The White Paper will be “the point of departure for structural reform” in which all the Community institutions will take part. It will be founded on three key principles: - listen, explain actions conducted by appropriated messages and dialogue with citizens. Margot Wallström stressed impact assessment of the future strategy and also better training of the players responsible for information. In compliance with the wishes of the EP, its services have launched a feasibility study on the creation of a televised parliamentary information channel. The results are expected for the end of June. The total cost of a multilingual channel, which would work on the Euronews model or like the American news channel C-SPAN, would be around EUR 50 to 80 million, Commission sources say.
During the debate, Othmar Karas (EPP-ED, Austria) hoped that each legislative proposal would clearly state the “added value” that it brings for citizens. Spanish Socialist Maria Badia i Cutchet considers it appropriate that the report suggests study programmes on the EU in schools with a view to increasing awareness among the young. Giuletto Chiesa (ALDe, Italy) said a “unified and standard model of press release has not worked”, information must be decentralised and “must emphasise the merits as well as the failings” of the EU. Helga Trüpel (Greens, EFA, Germany) put forward the idea of prizes for good ideas. Miguel Portas (GUE/NGL, Portugal) and Matteo Salvini (Independence/Democracy, Italy) warned that the limits between information and propaganda were not always clear.