Berlin, 19/01/2007 (Agence Europe) - At the 'Communicating Europe Together' conference in Berlin on Thursday 18 and Friday 19 January, the European Commission mooted the idea of including a reference to the European citizen's right to information in the Berlin Declaration, to be adopted on 25 March 2007 on the 50th anniversary of the Treaties of Rome. Ideally this right to information would be included in the constitutional treaty, said Margot Wallstrom, Vice-President of the Commission, as the German Presidency took this issue on board to try and get out of the current institutional deadlock. Wallstrom was unable to attend the conference in Berlin on Thursday - her speech was read out by Claus Haugaard Sorensen, Director General at DG Communication at the European Commission. She said an opportunity existed and should be seized to send citizens a 'clear signal' that the EU had learnt the cruel lessons of the draft constitution ratification process.
Interviewed by EUROPE about this idea, Germany's European Affairs Minister, Gunter Gloser, refused to decide one way or the other. He said it was clear that the Berlin Declaration would not only have to look towards the past, but should also give an answer for the future to the common challenges concerning all EU citizens, mentioning protection of the environment and energy. If we don't find solutions for the constitutional treaty, he said, we won't be able to find solutions to other dossiers.
The Commission's White Paper on an EU communications policy suggests looking into a code of conduct or a European Information and Communications Charter (see EUROPE 9121). The idea is that the charter would define principles of 'good' communication, like expressing diversity of opinions and wide involvement. Concerned about independence of views expressed, the EP does not appear to back the idea, but the Council seems to like the idea of establishing a special programme at EU level on which it could express its views. Consensus at the conference emerged over 'a long-term programme', but the Commission has not yet decided, explained sources close to Margot Wallstrom. The European Commission's new action plan, expected to be published in March or April this year, will indicate the path to be followed.
The conference in Berlin looked at strengthening communication partnerships among EU institutions and national and local level. Participants often stressed the importance of decentralisation in order to adapt communication to local conditions. Margot Wallstrom, EU Information Strategy and Communication Commissioner, said that an EU aspect had to be given to national and local debates. The national authorities of Germany, Spain, Hungary and Ireland and the regional authorities of Scotland outlined their own concrete initiatives in Berlin. Europe will be returning to them in detail. (mb)