Brussels, 30/08/2006 (Agence Europe) - In a speech delivered on 28 August before the European Parliament's Committee on Education and Culture, the Commissioner responsible for institutional relations and communication strategy, Margot Wallström, briefed MEPs on the follow-up to the European Commission's communication policy initiatives (action plan, Plan D and White Paper), while deploring the lack of means available to finance measures required to pursue the objectives set. “We need adequate resources to make sure that people, citizens, NGOs and experts really can attend these events, get involved and make their voices heard”, the Commissioner stressed, expressing her deep concern about the 8% cut foreseen in the 2007 budget. She called for Parliament's support for the proposals that she plans to put forward in order to raise more resources.
When it comes to follow-up, Ms Wallström announced measures that she plans to adopt this autumn and in 2007. Thus: (1) She plans to complete certain measures under the action plan of 20 July 2005 aimed at bringing the EU closer to its citizens. Ms Wallström will call on all Commission services to adopt a more modern and more professional approach in the Commission's communication activities. The DG COMM will help the other DGs to implement this initiative via the Communication Project Team, which will put different services (research, analysis and expertise) at their disposal. (2) Plan D, adopted in October 2005 as the Commission's contribution to the reflection period on the future of Europe, “does not have to be re-invented but broadened and deepened”. Public actions such as the “Springtime of Europe” aimed at making young people more aware of European issues, should be renewed and new actions initiated. For the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, in March 2007, the Commission will above all launch the “50 Faces of Europe” project with the participation of citizens born on 25 March 1957. (3) The year 2007 will also be the time for the Commission to publish a final report further to consultation on the White Paper (adopted in February this year) to be completed end September. Five conferences, bringing together all the players concerned and above all the civil society, are programmed for this autumn and winter. They will cover themes based on the priority subjects developed in the White Paper: - Defining common principles, in Brussels; - empowering citizens; - working with the media, in Helsinki; - understanding public opinion, in Madrid; - and doing the job together, in Berlin. The Commission will also take an interest in the creation of new meeting places where citizens may discuss the themes of interest to them. Finally, relations with the media will be looked at in greater detail, with new means foreseen to help them in their work of information and the improvement of existing information sources such as the television channels “Europe by Satellite” and “Euronews”. “On the basis of these five conferences, and in the light of the Herrero report, the Commission will propose specific action plans to set up an effective European communication policy”, Ms Wallström assured.