Brussels, 17/06/2008 (Agence Europe) - Communicating on Europe is not easy. There is no common European space when it comes to communicating on the work of the EU and the added value it brings. Those best placed to speak to citizens about the advantages of building the Community and conveying people's concerns to the European institutions are, in the opinion of Committee of the Regions (CoR) President Luc van de Brande, the members of the CoR. That is why the Committee argues for a partnership approach based on national and regional reality. To make this point, the Committee has organised its third institutional forum - “Communicating Europe in Partnership” - on the sidelines of its plenary session on Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 June (see EUROPE 9683). Almost 350 people - representatives of local and regional authorities, decentralised administrations, European Commission delegations and specialised and regional media - took part in the discussion on Tuesday. The results of this forum will inform Thursday morning's plenary session discussions on the opinion by Picardy regional councillor Claude du Grandut (EPP, France) on the same issue.
“How is it possible to communicate a common political project without a common public?” straight away wondered Van de Brande, opining that there would have to be a “search for additional effectiveness and political truth in links to be forged between local and regional authorities and Europe”. “It is my conviction today that the EU should more than ever be peopled with 'European politicians' and that mayors and regional leaders and those of other local authorities must be foremost among them,” he went on, adding, “European expects these 'European politicians' to carry the European standard on the ground and to deliver a detailed message on what Europe brings to people's daily lives. Regional and local media are the keystone of this information system with regard to the general public.” Timca Stokojnik, Press Officer at the Slovenian Permanent representation to the EU said that “to be able to speak about Europe in Slovenia, you have to cooperate with NGOs, to get their ideas and their ability to spread information, and the local media”. “Communication with the EU will continue after our EU Presidency: it is only by informing people that we will be able to maintain contact with the EU,” she added. Willy Hélin, Head of Office at the European Commission Representation in Brussels set out his “three concrete priorities: schools, schools and again schools”. “Why? Because we realised that there was a knowledge gap on Europe and civic education”. Hence the importance of contact with teachers, provision of teaching materials in primary and secondary schools, etc. Hélin said that “our cooperation with the CoR is excellent. National authorities are not always the best partners for giving information about Europe because what is appropriate at local level is not always so at national level!” Atanase Perfiran, the head of the European association of local solidarity, spoke about her “celebrations with neighbours - celebrations in buildings” initiative, the message of which is “sharing the values of humanity, tolerance and solidarity throughout Europe”. Anna Terron i Cusi (Government of Catalonia), a member of the PES group in the CoR, pointed out that “Europe is a political and administrative framework to which we belong and from which we, as citizens, must know what we need. … That is why in Catalonia we are trying to include information on Europe everywhere”. Jacques Moisse, of the European Federation of Public Communication Associations, said that “communicating Europe should be a pleasure”. Journalists and communicators should put the “desire for Europe” at centre stage. Doina Serban, European Commission Representative in Bucharest, spoke about how “Europe Direct” information centres worked, essentially through partnerships with schools, universities and rural players. The representative of the region of Extremadura in Spain highlighted the explanation and information deficit on EU integration in his region. Krystyn Wroblewska of the Marshal's Office of the Pomeranian Voivodship (Poland) expressed her “surprise” at the huge backing (71% of votes for the Treaty!) by Poland gave Europe. “If we have good economic cooperation with the EU, if the partnership works well, this support will last,” she added. The representative of the Yehudi Manuhin “IYOUWE share the world” foundation spoke of the importance of the arts and stories in intercultural dialogue. Jane Morrice, former Deputy Speaker of the Northern Irish Assembly, and currently a member of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC, various interests group) felt that what was needed was the desire to communicate. How was this to be done? Communicating Europe and informing citizens should, she said, be placed on an equal footing. A common communication policy was required. She said it was very important to invest in television since that was what interested the people, and there had to be use made of communicators. (G.B./transl.rt)