EU: Reshuffling communication policy

"EU citizens have the right to know and to be heard" said Margot Wallström, Commission Vice-President, announcing the release of a new plan Communicating Europe in Partnership on 3 October 2007. Its aim is to find consensus between Member States about the dissemination of an EU-wide civic education, thus avoiding the so-called ?Brussels blame game?, used quite often by some political national/regional leaders. The Commission headquarters are pushing to provide an appropriate framework in this matter, while respecting the autonomy of EU institutions and Member States.

Empowering citizens is the first priority of this new plan. Recent public opinion survey results indicate a desire for a more open debate. Going local is, on the onther hand, seen as an excellent lever to generate a series of dialogue with the various stakeholders. To promote the "Europe of citizens" more support is needed, especially from the education and training sector. Although a large range of programmes and tools are available for encouraging European citizenship, widespread consultation exercises have to be implemented with the help of all decision-makers.

The partnership approach, suggested by the European Commission, is also intended to increase participation in the 2009 European Parliament elections, and to develop a European public sphere to match the expectations of citizens ? whether on climate change, sustainable mobility or migration.

More info:
www.europa.eu