European Communication Policy - Closing the Gap

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 1.2.2006

COM(2006) 35 final

WHITE PAPER

ON A EUROPEAN COMMUNICATION POLICY

(presented by the Commission)

EN 2 EN

Debating Europe, involving people

INTRODUCTION: 'CLOSING THE GAP'

Over the last two decades, the European Union has been transformed. It has taken on a wide

range of tasks touching citizens' lives in many different ways. But Europe's communication

with its citizens has not kept pace.

The gap between the European Union and its citizens is widely recognised. In Eurobarometer

opinion polls carried out in recent years, many of the people interviewed say they know little

about the EU and feel they have little say in its decision-making process. Communication is

essential to a healthy democracy. It is a two-way street. Democracy can flourish only if

citizens know what is going on, and are able toparticipate fully.

Communication can never be divorced from what is being communicated. Citizens expect

Europe to offer them prosperity, solidarity and security in the face of globalisation. It is

therefore essential to any communication policy that the EU should deliver an effective policy

programme. But delivery by itself is not enough.

The Commission last year set out an Action Plan with a detailed list of specific measures it

will take to improve the way it communicates with citizens1. These include, for example,

reinforcing the Commission representation offices, better internal co-ordination and planning,

work on language and presentation, more access points for citizens.

The Commission also launched 'Plan D for democracy, dialogue and debate',2 which is

intended to involve citizens in a wide-ranging discussion on the European Union - what it is

for, where it is going and what it should be doing.

But these initiatives by the European Commission will only succeed if many more forces are

brought into play. A partnership approach is essential. Success will depend on the

involvement of all the key players - the other EU institutions and bodies; the national,

regional and local authorities in the Member States; European political parties; civil society.

The main purpose of this White Paper is to propose a way forward and to invite all these

players to contribute their ideas on how best we can work together to close the gap. The result

will be a forward-looking agenda for better communication to enhance the public debate in

Europe.3

1 Action Plan: SEC (2005) 985 final, 20 July 2005

2 Plan D: COM (2005) 494 final, 13 October 2005

3 In preparing this White Paper, the Commission took due account of the recommendations contained in

the European Parliament Resolution on the Implementation of the European Union's Information and

Communication Strategy (Herrero Report, (2004/2238(INI)). It also received valuable input from

several public events and individual contributions received by various experts and stakeholders. On 8

November 2005, the European Economic and Social Committee held a stakeholders' forum on

"Bridging the Gap" (http://www.esc.eu.int/stakeholders_forum/index_en.asp). And, on 25 November,

the Committee of the Regions held a plenary discussion on the key messages for the Commission White

Paper. Detailed proposals and suggestions received during the preparatory phase will be also reexamined

in the follow-up to the consultation process on this White Paper.

EN 3 EN

This Agenda would go beyond the scope of the Commission's own Action Plan. It seeks to

involve all levels of government and organisations in the Member States and it has a long

term time horizon.

The White Paper invites a lively and open discussion. Part I sets out the Commission's vision

of what an EU communication policy should be and do. Part II identifies the key areas for

consultation and future action.

How will the consultation work?

In the White Paper, the areas in which the Commission is seeking views and offering

suggestions are identified in boxes.

* The Parliament, the Council and the other EU institutions and bodies are invited to respond

to this White Paper through the normal institutional channels.

European citizens and stakeholders are invited to respond by logging on to a speciallycreated

multilingual website http:/europa.eu.int/comm/communication_white_paper or

at the postal address White Paper Consultation - European Commission -Directorate

General Communication - B-1049 Brussels - Belgium

* The Commission, in co-operation with other EU institutions, will also organise a series of

'stakeholder forums' to which specific