Euro-information
| 15:32 UK time, Monday, 11 December 2006
What should do to communicate better with its 459 million people?
I was at a meeting last week where the European Commission invited editors and reporters from media organisations around Europe to give their views on this as part of .
We volunteered some practical and fairly uncontroversial suggestions about how EU institutions can best get their day-to-day messages across, such as ensuring officials at all levels are equipped to respond promptly to media interest and questions, using the potential of the web to fuller effect, making sure there鈥檚 good forward planning for information about big events.
There was criticism of some media coverage of EU affairs as superficial or one-sided. The journalists countered that their role was to hold the EU to account rather than simply convey its messages. There did seem to be a general recognition that journalists often don鈥檛 do enough to explain what the EU actually does and in fact sometimes don鈥檛 know enough themselves to report on it confidently. (It was in recognition of this that the 大象传媒 last year put its news journalists through a short online training course on reporting the EU).
Margot Wallstr枚m, the Commission Vice-President, who hosted the meeting, spoke lucidly about the need for transparency and openness at all levels of the EU and the right of citizens to be informed and to have a say. (Perhaps to encourage others along these lines, she runs ).
That all seemed entirely sensible. But there was a wider issue lurking behind the discussions, which is whether Europe鈥檚 people feel a sense of real connection with the EU and its workings and if not, why not, given that its institutions are acting in their name. That is a harder one to tackle.
Comments
Hello! Hello? Over here! Yes, here. We鈥檙e the people who elect politicians and hold them to account through the ballot box. Most of us also consume 大象传媒 tv and radio. Just in case you and your 鈥渆u鈥 chums had forgotten us. So the 大象传媒 holds the 鈥渆u鈥 to account does it? I thought your job was to report the news. The 鈥渆u鈥 was not elected by us and now I am told that the way this quango is held to account is through journalists. When you lot of unelected nobodies in the Euro quango club have decided how to run the UK, would you kindly let us and our members of parliament know. So kind.
"What should the European Union do to communicate better with its 459 million people?"
Disband, and go back to what people agreed to - namely a free trade zone.
As we say over at www.idealgovernment.com - we want government made open, transparent and navigable. And nothing else - yet.
Apply FoI like the Swedes and Finns, use RSS like the New Zealanders, and let people make their own voyage to the dark bureaucratic interior.
We're not interested in how the EU wants to spin it. We like reports and analysis from the 大象传媒 but dont stick big ego in the way. Invisibility is much underrated.
I suspect what we yearn for is invisible government.
If the UK is an example, two way and undistorted communication with government is definitely not through the media.
The web may be the answer. Routine discussion with the various government departments using the online equivalent of Parliamentary Question Time.
This is the same EU who are ignoring a clear message from it's citizens that we do not want to enlarge any further is it?, I must have been dreaming that France and The Netherlands rejected the constitution because of the unsupportable enlargement plans?.
This I know to be the case because that crusading organisation the 大象传媒 seem to have forgotten to mention this, I presume this is an oversight which you will immediately fix!.
The 大象传媒 seem fixated on wanting Turkey to join the EU even though the majority of Turkish people and the majority of Europeans do not wish them to do so (you see I can make the difference between Europe and Asia).
However, I found your comment 'that you are here to hold the EU to account' as a super joke, you cannot even hold the British Government to account or seem to even want to, as for one sided reporting the 大象传媒 is a past master at it, just count the amount of Guardian journalists who seem to appear on 大象传媒 programmes, also the amount of links that 大象传媒 staff and Labour seem to share, and yet you have the audacity to state that you are an unbiased entity....oh well!, meanwhile back in the real world, I and millions like me have to go back to work to ensure that you receive your subsidised pensions etc.
Why should the EU bureaucracy in Brussels want to communicate with 459 million people when it is doing just fine operating anonymously in secrecy usurping power from member governments and imposing its will on all 459 million Euro-ites? Why have 10% of Britain's population fled and countless more thinking about it, wishing they could? Maybe it's the dictatorship of Eurocracy. In a truely democratic nation, people have the power to change things they don't like about the way their nation is run to their satisfaction. The Exodus from Britain proves many Brits feel disenfranchised and powerless to change their government, powerless to improve their lives. There's nothing they can do about it except go somewhere else....just like it was in East Germany before the wall fell. How will Britain pay for its social safety net when the only people left are pensioners and economic migrants?
Let's call it what it is - propaganda.
Research from the Bruges Group indicates that the EU spends 100 million euros every year on propaganda. The 2006 budget has 6 million euros allocated for propaganda related to the EU constitution, something which is supposed to be a dead duck.
The 大象传媒 absolutely fails to 'hold the EU to account'. If anything, it fawns over it and holds those who don't accept the idea of an all-encompassing superstate up for ridicule as 'cranks' and 'little Englanders'. It consistently fails to report that chunks of the constitution are being smuggled in without referenda, it fails to report the extraordinary waste of money and it fails in every article about the EU to consider that a European superstate might be anything other than a truly fabulous undertaking.
The European Union is unpopular because it is undemocratic. Hence, no matter how best you repackage it, ordinary Europeans won't buy it.
Could you please tell anyone why politicians who have been nationally rejected are those directing our thoughts? Right thinking and patriotic politicians need to work hard to reduce the power of the EU and nothing else. That is what you the 大象传媒 should tell your Chums in Brussels.
I once worked on a publicity campaign for the EU and know well the breadth and depth of good work it does for people in this country and beyond - and how it is constantly ignored by petty Little Englanders.
Which many responses to this post so far seem to reflect. Within my own field of expertise the EU has forced car manufacturers to make cars immensely safer, cleaner and quieter. The British government could not have achieved this on its own.
This is the kind of success that the EU needs to promote.
I am journalist, involved in the EU matters for 4 years. It is just incredible how all this "plan D" thing turned to the same "elite of the EU" project as well as all union. I am working in daily covering all Latvia, our readers still can't get access to internet, \but I have to listen 100 and 10 times that "main priorities of Plan D will me internet and TV". Sometimes I feel that all my everyday fights with bosses to publish information about the EU is just my hobby. I did never ever had any support from European Commision or European Parliament - only thing what they are willing to di,m is to pay for some tickets and hotels in Strasbourg. (Can somebody say that it is really a big effort?) Even then, when the EU wants to show its'democratic (...) side, somehow it turns to be one more gathering together of political elite - narrow circle, why like "flying circus'is running arround the EU.
How can the 大象传媒 possibly claim to be an unbiased news organisation when memo's from its senior staff have been published in which their stated goals were to promote multi-culturalism. News agencies should not have hidden motive no matter how laudable, especially one that are funded by tax payers.
As an American who worked for the EC for eight years I have to make a couple of observatiosn.
1. People in the Commission have developed jargon to a fine art. No one who is uninitiated has a hope in hell of understanding any of it. Granted "derogation" is a word- when was the last time any of you used it ?
2. The officials have a dedication to their institutions which would make Osama envious. Most of them truely believe they have it right and anyone who demurs is willfully ignorant and best and criminally stupid at worst.
3. They see no reason why the opinions or desires of the people or for that matter the EP should matter. The general opinion is that the population as a whole should shut up and let their betters get on with it.
4. Finally, those of you who are European Citizens really should take a closer look at the accounts- as well as the officials salary tables.
All governing authorities, and I mean every single last one, have a budget for diseminating information about their workings and so on to the public. If the EU conducts propaganda then so does the UK gov and every other governing authority in the world. A pro quo the issue of democracy. The EU is as democratic as our nationally elected leaders allow it to become, no more no less. It is these leaders that control the level of democracy in the EU. They could at anytime increase the powers of the parliament, decrease those of the commission and junk all the vetos for QMV. That they do not is because they fear that a fully democratic EU would be an EU deserving of more powers thus weakening their little fiefdoms. If you are not happy with the level of democracy in the EU then you know who to hold accountable for it (that would be your national governments).
I listen a lot to 大象传媒 4 via the Internet. I am exasperated by the lack of information given on the 大象传媒 News about EU policy and decisions, (except to wind up anti-EU listeners by complaining about EU policy).
Last night on French TV and today on radio and in national press one of the headlines concerned the vote on REACH: Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals.
I have heard nothing about this on the 大象传媒.
After 6 years of lobbying, and despite the letter signed by Blair, Chirac and Schroder and sent to Romano Prodi in 2003 asking the Commission not to jeopardise the competitivity of the chemical industry, the European parliament will vote today on legislation to publish a list of 30,000 everyday products containing chemicals harmful to consumers.
Apart from the importance of such a decision which should have been reported by the 大象传媒, several aspects of this news item could have been developed by commentators: the tenacity and success of lobbying groups; the power of the chemical industry and its links to politicians; research into the link of the causality of these chemicals and cancer etc.
'Ken', 'Mark' and 'Smith Elie' perpetuate the notion that the EU is undemocratic.
The EU is made up of three main institutions: the Council of Ministers, the European Commission and the European Parliament (the judiciary acts as a further oversight). Two of those three are peopled by directly elected politicians. The Parliament via European elections and the Council of Ministers by representatives of the elected national governments. The Commission is appointed by the national governments and hence is not elected.
The UK also has a Parliament and an executive Cabinet, part of whose remit is to attend the Council of Ministers in Brussels. The UK legislative also includes an unelected body, the House of Lords, which is also appointed.
The EU may indeed have room for further democatisation, but I would suggest that Ken, Mark and Smith Elie look a little closer at the instiutions closer to home before casting aspersions on those in Brussels.
It amuses me that the vocal Right feel the need to complain yet again about the state of this nation and the EU.
Also getting almost every argument wrong - we don't elect the EU? you didn't vote in the UK general or European elections then?
And then just disintegrating into howls of disapproval at anything they disagree with, referring to anything the EU says as propaganda [i could easily make the same claim about UKIP, for example]
And then comparing the EU to both a dictatorship and of being like East Germany... please.
If some people took some responsibility to find out what the EU does, stands for and is involved in, there may be just a little less xenophobia and ignorance amongst the kind of people that seem to love posting to the 大象传媒.
A. Student, Anytown
I would say communication from the EU is just fine. They seem to talk down to us and tell us what to do with no problem. It is that communication upwards that is a little more of an issue. With a superstate, one voice is drowned out even more than with a nation state. The basic principle of the superstate is flawed unless you like being pushed around.
Way back in the 70s, the British public voted in a referendum to join the ECC as a free trade area. Nowhere in that referendum was there any mention of the bloated monster the EU has since become. This fraud-ridden organisation appears to exist primarily to usurp the powers and responsibilities of democratically elected governements whilst remaining largely unaccountable to the general public.
30 years on from the original referendum, is it not time to ask the British public whether they wish to remain in the EU or withdraw entirely?
There are those who say that the UK economy would suffer if we were to withdraw from the EU, but then they said the same thing about the Euro and instead the reverse has proved to be true. If this great nation cannot survive without being a member of a trading bloc, perhaps NAFTA would be a better solution?
I find Mark's comments above strange, as many of Brits leaving are actually staying in Europe (Spain, France, East Europe ), so maybe the problem is not Europe, but Britain.
To ' A Student', I think that you need to finish your European Studies before making erroneous comments, however, I do feel sorry for you as the communists are no longer available for you to support...oh well, you could always support that enlightened country Iran.
What a load of poppy cock being spouted out by all these anti-EU commentators. Why don麓t they wake up and release that we in Britain are facing huge trans national problems such as the environment, crime,immigration, or dealing with multinational corporations. We have to deal with these problems on a transnational basis. Sure the EU is not perfect, but it has been very successful in contributing to the economic and political stability for those countries who have been its members.
Mark, your argument about people leaving this country. Guess where they are going, SPAIN, FRANCE, IRELAND and other EU members countries. So much for your argument that people are trying to escape the EU!
Russell, your argument concerning the EU is a superstate. In fact the European Commision employs less people then Leeds City Council!!! Hardly a superstate given the EU has a population of 459 million! Another lie based on bluster and untruth.....
It is important for the 大象传媒 to report on the EU and hold it to account. In order for the debate concerning the international challenges we face not to be hijacked or be distorted by the lies of these rightwing commentators!
To Chris Gow (comment 15). The European Economic Community was authorised by the UK population by a referendum. The constitutional changes that have, through stealth changes, resulted in the quangos we have now have not had any such authorisation. As such, our Ministers have no right to delegate or give away their powers (our powers) to these people.
When the 鈥渆u鈥 tried to go 鈥渓egit鈥 and hold referendums in separate countries on their draft constitution, the French led the way in rejecting it 鈥 and they gave up. 鈥淢EPs鈥 cannot be democratically representative if many (perhaps most) in this country do not believe they should exist at all. This voting boycott of 鈥淢EPs鈥 is self evident in the low turn outs for their elections. "MEPs鈥 have no mandate. The 鈥渆u鈥 has no mandate. The 大象传媒 may cosy up to them but majority of the UK never will while they remain undemocratic.
All those pandering for the EU super state are those who have no sense of Nationhood. Look, most British and Commonwealth citizens died resisting the Nazis and today at peace time, some people under the guise of some funny assumptions wants Britain to capitulate. The EU is the greatest capitulation in peace time.
Our forefathers are now turning in their graves at the sight that, some people want British independence that is almost gone to be completely handed over to Brussels.Repackage the EU as some friends of Brussels desires, it will still be unpopular.
In France where I am living, if there was a referendum held today on whether France should quit the EU, 70% will vote yes. The EU has only brought problems and nothing good. However, Britain can be an a la carte member of the dictatorial union. As for those who are neck deep pro Federal Europe like Chris Gow, this is a small example to show that, the EU is alien to democracy.
What was agreed amongst the 25 member states, in case their cumbersome 450 page constitution was rejected by a single European country? Here is the answer: No vote by any European member country meant automatic burial of the federal constituion that would have made Britain a province of Brussel.
Now, what is happening even though France and the Netherlands voted no on the 29th May and 1st June this year? The retification is going on in strong disregard of rules they set for themselves.
If the EU can't be honest in a little thing, they won't be in a big one. Could you also tell us Mr Chris Gow, the position of the EU on Cuba and Sudan? And some have the courage to call the EU a democracy. Furthermore, one hidden agenda for the EU and their supporters is to see the back of the US. It is a pity that, the sacrifices of the US is watered down by the EU. Some EU members even prefer Vladimir Poutin to George Bush. It is a strange irony.
More snouts in the EU trough? I don't suppose journos take their own sandwiches. I see from one bulletin I receive that there will be umpteen millions spent by our PM on softening us up to accept the European Federation. Is the 大象传媒 going to help with that? My own MP spends 10 days per month (during Parliamentary sessions) at the Council of Europe. Is there no end of these talking shops to pay for? When will a VAT increase be called for, I wonder?
Hello...earth calling Mr Blair, is any politician out there, do any of them read 'have your say' I doubt it because if they did they would realise that very few people in the UK wish to be in the EU any longer. It is not, and never was, in UK interests to be a member. After over 30 years as a member state, people who had the option to vote for membership will be reducing in number, and I for one would like to have a say in the direction of my homeland which at that time was denied to me through my ineligibility to vote. The corruption of the commission is without doubt, and as a UK citizen I object to my taxes being spent on an organisation with a hidden agenda. After the last pre budget statement, the labour party political broadcast invited viewers to contact the party via e-mail with any questions or queries, as a forum was 'waiting for my call' three letters later and still no reply, having left e-mail addresses, phone numbers, home address etc. The simple fact is that these monkeys who spout politics do not have practical answers or solutions to problems or questions, they do not want the electorate to know the truth and make informed decisions on the basis of fact. The Kinnocks and Mandelsons of the world are not representative of the British people, and are not interested in your opinion, just your money.
* 21.
* At 12:26 PM on 13 Dec 2006,
* Raj Singh wrote:
"Russell, your argument concerning the EU is a superstate. In fact the European Commision employs less people then Leeds City Council!!!
Hardly a superstate given the EU has a population of 459 million! Another lie based on bluster and untruth....."
That's the Commission. Alone. That employs (as of 1st September 2005) 26,163 people. You haven't included the people who work at both parliament buildings (Brussels and Strasbourg), The EU Parliament members, their staff, their staff's staff, their chauffeurs, the translators and the men and women who run the private EU saunas, private EU restaurants and private EU libraries.
You need to check your figures, because you are approximately 224,000 people out.
"It is important for the 大象传媒 to report on the EU and hold it to account. In order for the debate concerning the international challenges we face not to be hijacked or be distorted by the lies of these rightwing commentators!"
In your rush to suckle at the teat of the EU you are clearly prepared to shrug off the appalling waste and corruption that occurs. Perhaps a little more research and a little less fawning rhetoric would not go amiss.