The Newsletter will in each issue select a broader theme with relevance for the work in the CINEFOGO Network of Excellence. Thus we intend to invite CINEFOGO partners and/or external individuals to make a presentation related to the selected theme. For this first issue we have chosen to address 'Civil Society and European Democracy'. The Newsletter has asked Mrs. Margot Wallström, Vice-President of the European Commission, with special responsibility for Internal Relations and Communication Strategy, to make a contribution related to this issue's theme.

Ideas concerning the ties between civil society and democratization processes in Europe are involved - directly or indirectly - in the public debates on European topics like: The Constitution for Europe (treaty signed October 2004), the Commission's 'Plan-D for Democracy, Dialogue and Debate' (issued October 2005), and the European Communication Policy (a White Paper on this issue was published by the Commission 1 February this year).

Vice-President Wallström has been very active in these debates, and it is our pleasure to bring her speech from a conference on the 1 February 2006, where the above-mentioned White Paper was presented. The conference was arranged by ECAS, together with other private groups.

In her speech Vice-President Wallström underlines that "communication is first and foremost a matter of democracy", and she offers a frank and precise diagnosis of what has been called the 'communication gap' between the European Union and its citizens. Points of critics include the lack of a common vision and agreed principles, and that communicating Europe largely has remained a 'Brussels Affair' and not a matter of common concern for all stakeholders involved in the European Project. Against this background, the Commission's White Paper outlines a number of areas where initiatives should be taken.

Here we pass on the scene to Vice-President Wallström:

 
"Ladies and gentlemen,

I am delighted to be here and I am delighted to see this crowded room. And it gives me great pleasure to announce that the Commission has adopted its White Paper on a European Communication Policy. 
Communication is first and foremost a matter of democracy. People have a right to know what the EU does and what it stands for. And, as citizens, they have a right to fully participate in the European project.  This is the key message of the White Paper.
Closing the communication gap between the EU and its citizens has become more urgent than ever. The White Paper is the Commission's proposal to respond to this challenge and to lay the foundation of a European Union Communication Policy".
The 'communication gap' between the European Union and its citizens is not new. It has been a subject of discussion in EU circles at least since the referenda that pre-ceded the entry into force of the Maastricht Treaty in 1992. And recent referenda have been a harsh wake up call.
So, why is there a communication gap between the people and the policy-makers? And why have previous efforts failed to close that gap?
Our White Paper starts with a frank analysis of what has not worked.

1.  First, previous communication strategies have lacked a common vision and agreed principles to guide them;
2. Second, communicating Europe has remained largely a "Brussels' affair" and not a matter of common concern: for Brussels, for Member States and national institutions, for civil society at large.
3.  Third, the focus has been on a one-way supply of information, more centered on the institutions than on the needs and wishes of    citizens.
4. Fourth, previous efforts have not taken account of the highly competitive and rapidly changing media landscape;
5. Finally, previous strategies have not been tailored to the complexity and di-versity of European public opinion.

That's why a new approach is needed.

The European project can succeed only if the citizens see it as their project. Something they have agreed to do together. They must be closely involved in 'writing the script'.
So EU communication cannot be about "selling Europe" or producing propaganda. It is about enhancing our democracy.
The White Paper argues for developing a working "European public sphere", where the European debate can unfold and citizens can participate.  This is an ambitious project, which will take time. It will only succeed if all actors are ready to commit and take responsibility.
A European political culture, with pan-European political parties and foundations, is still to emerge; the media remain largely national, with very little coverage of Euro-pean issues; there are no obvious fora where citizens can meet and discuss issues of common interest.

Today's White Paper is a call to action

•  by all EU institutions,
•  by all EU governments and political parties,
•  by civil society and the media in all EU countries.

The White Paper proposes that we start work in five main areas. 

First, defining common principles. 

A EU communication policy must be based on the fundamental recognition that all EU citizens have certain rights. For example,

•  The right to fair and full information about the EU.
•  The right to hear the full range of views about the EU.
•  And the right to have their voices heard by policy-makers.

The White Paper proposes that these principles be enshrined in a framework document -a 'charter' or perhaps a 'code of conduct' to which all the key players would commit themselves on a voluntary basis.
We need those common principles to guide our common action and to give credibility and legitimacy to our communication activities. And, most importantly, to give citizens a tool to assess whether or not their rights are respected.
The second work area the White Paper proposes is empowering citizens. How can a EU communication policy contribute to that?

The White paper identifies three ways forward:

• (i) to work more together on civic education;
  (ii) to connect citizens with one another;
  (iii) to connect the citizens with the institutions.

Civic education is a national or regional responsibility. But, the EU can help to ensure exchange of best practice and facilitate the development of common educational 'tools' so that the European dimension is better addressed.

New forums for public discussion of European issues are essential for building mu-tual trust, respect and willingness to work together towards common objectives.

Also, good two-way communication between the citizens and public institutions is essential in a healthy democracy. The present drive to make the EU institutions more responsive, open and accessible needs to continue to strengthen.

The third area in which the White Paper proposes working concerns the media and new technologies.
The media are key players in communication policy and it is vital that public institu-tions at all levels of governance find innovative ways of working with the national, regional and local media.
We also need to discuss together how to ensure that all views are fairly represented in these debates, and how we can provide citizens with full, fair and factual informa-tion through a wide range of channels - not only the press, radio and TV but also the Internet.

The fourth working area is understanding public opinion.

This is a challenge for policy-makers. They need to stay in tune with European pub-lic opinion: but citizens' views on any issue can vary quite dramatically from one country or region to another.

The European Commission has been a front runner in developing modern tools - such as the Eurobarometer surveys - for analyzing European public opinion, and our White Paper invites a debate on how we could improve our use of these tools.

Finally, the fifth area for joint discussion is how to make the partnership work.  How to do the job together.

•  How can EU governments cooperate more closely with one another and with 'Brussels' on informing and consulting citizens?
•  How can the EU institutions work together more effectively and do more to decentralize their efforts?
•  Local and regional authorities are well placed to engage in real dialogue with citizens: how best can they channel the views of local communities to the Brussels policy-makers?
•  What more can political parties and NGOs do to raise public awareness of European issues and stimulate public debate?

The Commission does not have ready-made answers to these questions - and we would not presume to lecture the other players on what they should do.

The White Paper invites all players to think hard about these questions and come forward with their own ideas.

All players - indeed all interested parties, including all EU citizens and civil society organisations - are invited to post their comments on the consultation website, or to write to the Commission.

The consultation period will last six months - until the end of July 2006.  At the end of that period we will draw up and publish a summary of the results, and we will work with the 'stakeholders' - i.e. the key players - to draw up specific plans of action.

Will it work?  That is the question ECAS is asking today.
My answer is, emphatically, YES:

•  if all the players agree on the agenda
•  and commit themselves to action

Let me leave you with the words of the philosopher John Dewey:

"There is more than a verbal tie between the words common, community, and com-munication... Try the experiment of communicating, with fullness and accuracy, some experience to another, especially if it be somewhat complicated, and you will find your own attitude toward your experience changing".

Communication helps understanding, builds common values, creates communities.

That is what the EU needs more than anything.

Thank you."

End of 4. Theme: Civil Society and European Democracy