Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-09-06-Speech-2-252"
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"en.20050906.33.2-252"2
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".
For this Commission, communicating with the citizens of the European Union has been a key strategic objective from the start. This is why we have been engaged in a lengthy and comprehensive analysis and consultation within the Commission itself and in an equally comprehensive dialogue on this issue with many of the actors concerned, and Parliament in particular.
As a result, the Commission has developed a new approach to European communication based on three strategic principles that all clearly put the citizens at the heart of European policies. Firstly, the Commission will further improve its efforts to listen to citizens and to take their views and concerns into account. Secondly, it will better communicate how its policies affect their everyday lives – an aspect mentioned by the honourable Members. Thirdly, it will go local and adapt its communication to the different citizens' sensitivities according to their country, region, language, and their age, sex, profession, etc.
On 20 July 2005, this materialised in the adoption of the internal action plan to improve the way in which the Commission communicates Europe. The aim of this plan is to improve the organisation of the Commission's ongoing communication work on the basis of the three principles. Concretely, this plan gives details of 50 very pragmatic actions – most of them to be carried out immediately, i.e. within the next 12 months – to make the Commission's existing comprehensive communication work more professional and effective. For example, the Commission will make better use of those communication tools that most people prefer – i.e. the audiovisual media and the Internet – and will do this in the language they understand. It will provide its staff with specific training in communication skills and recruit communication specialists as well. It will integrate communication aspects into policy formulation right from the beginning and it will reinforce the Commission's representation offices in the Member States and help them better focus on acting as our ears and spokesmen on the ground by simplifying and reducing their administrative burden.
However, communicating with European citizens is a task that goes far beyond the Commission's remit. Therefore, the next step will be the White Paper on communication, which is meant to engage all stakeholders and all institutions. In this paper, the Commission will set out the policy vision and the initiatives that it thinks have to be undertaken in the medium and long term, in cooperation with other actors. Among these actors are the European institutions: Parliament, in particular, has an essential role to play. Both the Commission and Parliament already have long-standing good cooperation in this area, which has gained even further momentum in the last months. However, if we really want to achieve substantial change in European communications, it is true that it is even more urgent to enhance cooperation and coordination with the Member States in order to set up a strong partnership with their governments and regional authorities, civil society and the media as well. The White Paper will address the role of all the stakeholders and launch a broad consultation procedure in order to give them the possibility to define and organise their input. Based on the results of this dialogue, common actions will be defined.
Good communication is essential for a healthy democracy. However, the public debate on Europe in the first half of this year has shown that at present there is no agreement or understanding about what Europe is for and where it is heading. This is why we need not only a new approach to communication, but also a good discussion about the future of Europe as a whole.
Accordingly, the Commission is developing a plan D – as I have called it – where D stands for dialogue, debate and democracy. This is also in line with the declaration by the Heads of State and Government at the June European Council stating the need for a reflection pause to organise a broad debate. In order to reconnect Europe's citizens with the European project, they and their organisations must be given a stronger voice, and we, the decision-makers, must develop the ability to better listen to their concerns and expectations.
The Commission's role in this process would be that of a facilitator, providing support to Member States and civil societies to make this plan D happen. However, it is essential to avoid as much as possible a top-down approach, as democracies are by definition bottom-up. Again, this is not something that the Commission or, for that matter, the EU institutions can do alone. If we are to succeed in creating a more citizen-driven Europe that can meet the challenges of today's globalising world, Europe's policies must also be solidly anchored in the governments and parliaments of each Member State."@en1
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