Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-03-12-Speech-1-141"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2001-03-12"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Information and communication2
dcterms:Language	"en"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20010312.9.1-141"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2001-03-12-Speech-1-1422
lpv:speaker	lp:Barbara O'toole2
lpv:spoken text	"Mr President, Commissioner Monti, we all realise that we are facing a crisis in terms of our press and communications policy for the Union's institutions. Our institutions are regarded with contempt at worst and apathy at best. But if you look at the work that we actually do in the European Union, it is high-quality work of great significance to all of our citizens and has an impact on their everyday lives. Why therefore cannot that message be put across with greater alacrity and greater effectiveness, by the Commission in particular? Last week, at an event in my constituency, trade unionists were taken aback at the sheer breadth of legislation that we had been able to enact, and ensured that Member States enacted, in favour of their rights. Yet that message does not seem to get through to them on a day-to-day basis and we have to ask why. I very much believe that although we are an elected House and the Commission is not, and although the Commission has one part of the policy process and we have another, we in fact have shared interests. I spend much of my time trying to destroy the myths that are growing up about the European Union and although I welcome the statement of the Commissioner, particularly on public relations and rapid rebuttal, I still feel unassisted by the Commission in what we are trying to do. I regret that it has taken until now to get a communication on this issue. I have to ask why the interinstitutional talks on this issue are still stalled? I also have to ask why, when the Commission is ambitious enough – quite rightly – to want to reform the whole of European governance, it does not put at the centre of that strategy a radical reworking and modernisation of its communications and information policy. Quite honestly, we have an awfully long way to go in terms of delivering the policy that the people deserve. These questions must be answered because going forward with the White Paper on governance cannot be done in all sincerity, unless there is a commitment by the European Commission to come to terms with the problems it is experiencing within its organisation. Certainly it will have a partner in Parliament in attempting to rework the system radically. In my own country, my party is famed for its spin-doctors. I am not necessarily advocating such a development in the European Union but we must look – and that is why I welcome your words Commissioner – at the whole question of public relations. If we are to realise the European project that we here in this room want, then we must have a voice that can sell that project and at the moment I am afraid we do not."@en1
lpv:spokenAs	member; PES (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 substitute; Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy (1999-07-22--2002-01-14)3 member; Committee on Culture, Youth, Education, the Media and Sport (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3 unknown; Labour Party (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 member; Delegation to the EU-Poland Joint Parliamentary Committee (1999-10-06--2002-01-14)3
lpv:unclassifiedMetadata	"O'Toole (PSE )."1

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