Brussels, 11/01/2006 (Agence Europe) - Due at the end of 2005, the publication of the Commission White Paper on the European Information and Communication Strategy has been delayed until the start of February. Institutional Relations and Information Strategy Commissioner Margot Wallström's progress report, which has been with the College of Commissioners since the end of December, confirms the development of the Commission's approach (see EUROPE 8933 and 9810). The future strategy is likely to concentrate on European citizens rather than on the Institutions, and will be put out for consultation until the end of June. European citizens know that various decisions are taken at European level, but have the feeling that they cannot influence these decisions, says the Commission which believes that it is time for Europe, after opening markets, defining common policies and contributing to the construction of roads and bridges, to invest in the construction of a democratic infrastructure which will allow citizens to exchange views among themselves and with the institutions. The White Paper will, therefore, suggest work on five main lines: defining common information and communication principles; partnership with stakeholders at European, national and local levels; involvement of European citizens; relations with the media and use of new technologies; and taking public opinion into account. The innovative idea of a European Charter on information and communication has been put out for consultation. This Charter will be a framework for information and communication activities including policies at European, national and local levels as well as civil society. The White Paper will draw up a list of possible concrete measures extending beyond the powers even of the Commission. On this list will feature the creation of innovative civic education programmes, digital European libraries, a European teacher training centre, a European information agency, a European observatory of public opinion and the media. The consultation period will allow further additions.
On 10 January, at a seminar organised by the ALDE European Parliamentary group, Margot Wallström spoke about the White Paper priorities and explained that communication must become a European Union policy in its own right. She opined that communication about Europe remained a Brussels issue since there were not enough forums for debate and there was a lack of structures at local level. Citizens, especially young people, have to be involved, she said, adding that that was why we were searching for our modern EU history: what can we say to twenty year olds about Europe? According to Graham Watson, leader of the ALDE group, Brussels is considered at one and the same time as some kind of giant burlesque show and a huge interventionist power; while there really was a European democracy, there were no European demos as yet, since people are not part of it. He warned that as long as the people were not carried along, the European project would keep getting bogged down. Reijo Kemppinen, the Commission representative in London and former spokesman in the Prodi Commission, who was a member of the panel, felt that the popularity of the EU would not improve as long as we were happy to relaunch the debate on the draft Constitution. The period of reflection had not even started in some countries, he said, so it would be necessary to wait two or three years before going back to the Constitutional debate, and get on with communication first - communication first and foremost on the local level and re-launching actions that impact on the daily lives of citizens. Karel Bartak, Brussels correspondent of the Czech Press Agency, emphasised that it would be impossible to get any message through without the help of the media. And the media would have to be independent and not approach European problems solely from a national point of view, with the editor in chief often afraid that the message was too complex and not very interesting for the man in the street. The result was that European news was treated more and more like an advert and given 90 seconds on the Czech television news to talk about REACH! Finally, stating that the EU was not a product to be sold and that it was necessary to come back to the debate on the very reasons for the Union, Lousewies van der Laan, D66 MP in the Dutch Parliament and former MEP, put forward several ideas: greater involvement of national parliaments and the media (especially television), avoiding speaking about Europe in terms of Brussels or the institutions. She also felt that the Council should avoid attitudes that do not help the image of the EU.