EurActiv celebrates "Europa Renaissance", building partnerships in Central Europe 

In this context, EurActiv presented the extension of its "Crosslingual" project, with initial support from the EU under the eContent programme, to a number of Central and Eastern European policy portals, including in Slovenia, Bulgaria and Slovakia. Under the partnership, the portal partners translate EurActiv's content into their respective languages and publish it on their local websites. In addition, EurActiv advises its Central European partners on how to make their portals economically sustainable while preserving editorial independence.

The 2003 printed "Special Edition" of EurActiv aims to accompany the debate on the future of the EU in the Convention and to focus on the implications of enlargement. Hence the reference to Renaissance, or the "rebirth" of Europe, which the EurActiv team emphasised by wearing costumes from that period. To underline this main theme, EU Commissioner for Institutional Reform Michel Barnier, Poland's Ambassador to the EU Marek Grela, Slovenian observer MEP and Member of the European Convention's Presidium Alojz Peterle addressed the event.

 

EU Commissioner for Institutional Reform Michel Barnierpreferred to speak of the extension rather than the rebirth of Europe. The first phase of the constitutional project is complete, it is now time to prove the European project is indeed useful in discussion with EU governments and then with the citizens of Europe. Europe will have to face a number of challenges, resulting from an ageing population as well as technological change. Commissioner Barnier emphasised that although institutions and mechanisms are important, the European project can be successful only through working together and exchanging ideas, for which "EurActiv provides an excellent platform".

Poland's Ambassador to the EU Marek Grelaemphasised the fact that while they were not part of the EU history so far, the Central European people are happy about EU enlargement and see it as a natural process. "There is already a strong drive beyond the next EU enlargement, such as the big European project to stabilise the Balkans". Poland is now starting to learn "how to build bridges, not fences", Mr. Grela said.

Slovenian Member of the Convention's Presidium Alojz Peterlestressed that the excellent cooperation on the draft Constitutional Treaty shows that European nations want a common future. The final agreement is also a proof that accession countries want to take an active and constructive part in the European project.

Oliver Money Kyrle, on behalf of Aidan White, Secretary General of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)referred to the good partnership with EurActiv under the Crosslingual project. Mr. Kyrle spoke out for editorial independence as he drew attention to a new IFJ report warning about increasing Western ownership of local media in Central and Eastern Europe.

EurActiv's Publisher, Christophe Leclercq, said that the notion of Renaissance or rebirth is best applicable to Europe today, since we are witnessing "the opening of the borders, the spread of new media like the Internet, and thus the involvement of an ever increasing number of actors". EurActiv has been and will continue to be a key medium in this process, Mr Leclercq said.