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New approach to information and communication

The European Commission advocates a more coordinated approach to information, better explanation of policies and improved dialogue with the citizens of the European Union.

Following a request from the European Council and the European Parliament, the Commission today agreed on a new approach to information and communication. It outlines the importance of working more closely with the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament in real partnership with the Member States to inform citizens better about European issues and to enable them to participate in European debates. For the first time decision-makers at European, national and regional level will be working together to close the European information gap.

President Romano Prodi stressed the importance of a new coordinated approach to communication on key European issues at European, national and local levels. "A new information policy is an essential part of our strategy to modernize the way the EU operates", he said. "In the light of our future challenges, and I think especially of enlargement, the importance of this information and communication policy will grow."

Welcoming the Commission's new policy, Antonio Vitorino, the Commissioner responsible for information said: "This fresh approach to information and communication is needed to counter ignorance and apathy about the European Union and to draw citizens into the European debate." He continued: "It is clear that the European Institutions alone cannot communicate with the 370 million citizens of the Union and communicating with nearly 500 million following enlargement will be an even greater task. The Member States must share the responsibility of providing information, entering into a dialogue with citizens and gaining their consent. I am pleased that there is now a real political will to work in partnership. The new ways of working set out today will improve explanation of key European policies and raise awareness about the Union. By working more closely with our partners we will be able to better connect with the public throughout the EU."

The new approach

The Commission proposes a twofold approach that is both realistic and gradual:

• 
  Improving co-ordination between the Institutions and the Member States at national, regional and local level so that the provision of information and the formulation and dissemination of messages on priority issues are more coherent and focused on the end user, the European public;
  
  
• Establishing a voluntary working partnership with the Member States, fostering genuine synergy between their structures and know-how and the activities of the European Union.

The challenge is immense and the means are limited, but we all have a duty to inform citizens so that they can better understand the Union in which they live and become more involved in the European decision-making process.

Priority policies

The Commission welcomes and underlines the need for a greater cooperation with its partners in all areas of information and communication. In that respect, it specifically invites them to work on four key policy areas:

• enlargement
  
  
• justice and home affairs
  
  
• the future of Europe and
  
  
• the role of the Union in the world.

A more proactive, professional approach

The Commission recognizes that openness and transparency require the development of a new culture of communication to meet the needs of the public and encourage informed debate. New media technologies must be used to the full for this purpose. By working more closely together the EU Institutions and the Member States can ensure that information is coherent and responds to people's needs. Information must be targeted and geared to local realities for Europe to become a tangible reality for people.

Background

The European Council in Helsinki in 1999 asked the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission to pool their efforts to provide coordinated general information about the Union and to make best use of resources. As a result the Commission adopted a communication in June 2001 on a new framework for co-operation on activities concerning the information and communication policy of the European Union. This called on the other institutions and bodies of the Union and on the Member States to join in its efforts to overhaul the Union's information and communication policy. The communication was approved by the European Parliament and welcomed by the Belgian and Spanish Presidencies of the Council. For the first time, the important role of the Member States in the dissemination of information on EU issues has been recognized.

The new strategy adopted by the Commission on 2 July provides a basis for developing a joint communication policy. It is timely because there is now political will to involve the public more in European decision-making. At present, many people feel inadequately informed to participate fully. There is widespread ignorance, particularly among young people, not only of what the Union has achieved but also of how it operates and how it affects their daily lives. This lack of information and understanding leads to apathy and unwillingness to take part in public affairs and debate.

To counter this and to enable people to participate in European issues, improved information and communication by the Commission, Parliament, Council and Member States are an absolute necessity.

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• Statement by Carlo Trojan on the Implementation of the Information Society in the EU (3/7/2002)
• L'Union Européenne et la société de l'information (29/4/2002)
• EU Presidency Statement - 24th Session of the Committee on Information (22/4/2002)