To illustrate her point about how the EU needs to reach the citizens with other means than 'eurospeak' in glitzy brochures that don't get read, Commissioner designate for Communication and Institutional Relations Margot Wallström used a video as part of her presentation at the hearing before the European Parliament.
The video's last image was of a young woman stating "je me sens pas assez touché encore". Wallström set out with charm and energy to convince the Parliament that she intends to change that feeling with a more professional image-oriented communications strategy. This would involve closer collaboration with both the Parliament and the Commission's representations in the member states to get "much closer to national realities".
She argued that further use of TV and radio should be part of efforts to reach more citizens, and pledged to work to get financial support for such initiatives, and called for use of the education system to raise awareness of the EU's work.
The only real flashpoint during the hearing was over Wallströms firm conviction that the Commission should not be deeply involved in the upcoming national campaigns to ensure ratification of the constitution. To the protests of some MEPs she stuck to her point that it would be "counterproductive" if the Commission was seen to be involved in "propaganda". Rather, she would prefer the Commisison to remain in a merely supportive role, only giving general information and correcting blatant misinformation.
