EUROPEAN COMMUNICATION POLICY (5992/06)
Letter from Rt Hon Geoff Hoon MP, Minister
for Europe, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, to the Chairman
The FCO earlier sent an Explanatory Memorandum
about the White Paper on a European Communication Policy (5992/06)
from the Commission on 9 March 2006. I now enclose the UK's formal
response to the Commission White Paper for your information.
26 October 2006
Annex A
RESPONSE TO
THE COMMISSION
ON THE
WHITE PAPER
ON A
EUROPEAN COMMUNICATIONS
POLICY
1. The European Commission's White Paper
on a European Communications Policy invites ideas on a forward-looking
agenda for better communication to enhance the public debate in
Europe. The United Kingdom responds below along the following
themes: "defining common principles"; "empowering
citizens"; "working with the media and new technologies";
"understanding European public opinion"; and "doing
the job together".
DEFINING COMMON
PRINCIPLES
2. The UK agrees that participation in common
information and communication activities is important. We question
the necessity of a charter or framework document for this to be
achieved. While discussions since the White Paper was published
have suggested that such a document would not apply to Member
States, it is unclear how defining common principles in a charter,
Code of conduct or other instrument would add value to the existing
frameworks of the EU Institutions. We would welcome more detail
on this proposal and in particular the legal status and implications
of such a document.
EMPOWERING CITIZENS
3. The UK agrees that civic education (known
as "citizenship" in the UK education system) is crucial,
and it has been statutory in England since 2002. UK Government
policy is to teach about the nature and roles of all democratic
institutions, including UK Parliament and the European Union and
also the United Nations (UN), the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
(NATO) and the Commonwealth. Programmes such as the Lifelong Learning
Programme and Youth in Action can be of direct support in fostering
intercultural dialogue, improving educational outcomes and tackling
exclusion.
4. The UK does not see the need for a new
structure to bring together European teachers. This is already
provided for through the Lifelong Learning programme, including
in the Comenius Sub-programme and the Jean Monnet sub-programme,
and there is sufficient flexibility built into the programme to
do more work in this area if Member States agree it is a priority.
5. The UK is keen for any pan-European communications
activities to address issues of most concern to the public that
matter to it. We welcome the Commission's proposals to enhance
the Institutions' work on communications, including a review of
the Commission's minimum standards of consultation.
6. We would welcome further detail on proposals
for joint open debates between the Commission, Parliament and
the The European Parliament by its very nature is representative
of a wide-range of views.
WORKING WITH
THE MEDIA
AND NEW
TECHNOLOGIES
7. The UK agrees that media coverage of
European issues is vital, including to highlight Europe's role
on issues of public concern such as environment and energy. But
whilst more could be done to involve the media more effectively
in communicating on Europe, it is unclear how an over-arching
European communication policy would encourage achievement of this
goal. We would encourage the EU Institutions to explore ways of
better providing the media with information materials adapted
to the individual needs of each Member State.
8. The UK supports better equipment ofEU
Institutions with communication tools and capacities. But we would
need to see the case for a possible upgrade of Europe by Satellite,
including costs associated with this project.
9. The UK remains to be convinced about
the need for a European Programme for Training in Public Communications
for officials from European and national institutions. There is
no "one size fits all" approach across 25 Member States
and the Institutions. The UK, however, does see value in communications
professionals from different Member States sharing best practice.
The Information Working Group (IWG) already provides a forum where
Member States can do just this, and we would encourage Member
States to continue to send relevant professionals to the sessions.
It would be useful for the IWG to continue to run focussed training
sessions on specific themes, such as Working with Citizens
and Working with Stakeholders held under the UK Presidency,
and the session on use of the internet in communicating Europe
held under the Austrian Presidency.
10. With regard to the proposed report on
information technologies and democracy in Europe by the European
Round Table for Democracy, the UK would welcome further information
on what added value such a report would provide.
UNDERSTANDING EUROPEAN
PUBLIC OPINION
11 The UK would welcome the opportunity
to explore new avenues of cooperation with the EU Institutions
under this heading. Eurobarometer is a valuable source of information
but we could explore ways of improving the quality and quantity
of the information available. Member States could make a valuable
contribution to the design of the surveys. Country specific "Flash"
surveys with questions tailored to the circumstances in individual
Member States may complement information already gathered in the
Standard Eurobarometer surveys.
12. Another way of maximising the value
of the surveys would be to improve the usefulness of the data
provided on the Eurobarometer website. Surveys are currently published
on the Eurobarometer website in a PDF format. While the analytical
reports are a useful source of information, it could be helpful
to explore ways of expanding the range and presentation of information
available through the interactive search system. This would be
simple to do and we believe would improve the presentation and
accessibility of the materials available.
13. Establishing a network of national experts
would enhance this further. A network could add an external dimension
to the gathering of public opinion data, offering the opportunity
for information gathering and sharing of best practice across
the EU.
14. Information gathered by an independent
observatory for public opinion could be a valuable resource. The
independent status of such an agency would underline the credibility
of the information gathered. However, we would welcome further
explanation as to how the independence of such a body would be
guaranteed as well as further detail on how the Commission propose
it should be funded. The White Paper is also unclear about how
a new institution would co-exist with the current Eurobarometer
structure.
DOING THE
JOB TOGETHER
15. The UK welcomes the steps by the Institutions
as outlined in the White Paper to become more responsive, open
and accessible. We agree with the Commission on the need to communicate
more effectively on the workings of the Institutions and make
them more accessible and transparent. The UK looks forward to
exploring ways of further cooperation with the European Commission
Representation and European Parliament Offices in the UK on these
issues.
16. The UK agrees with the Commission that
joined-up working in some areas could enhance the effectiveness
of EU communications activities at local, regional, national and
EU levels. A good example of this is the "Building a Bridge
between Europe and its Citizens" project led by the Scottish
Executive working closely with the European Commission and the
Scottish and European Parliaments. This is a valuable project
exploring what lessons can be drawn from Scottish consultation
and legislative processes to help the European Union better connect
with the citizens it serves.
17. It would be for national parliaments
to decide what role they would like to play in initiatives in
this arena but we would encourage both EU Institutions and national
parliaments to explore this option further.
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