Tag: Plan D

The European Union spent €2.4bn last year on "biased information campaigns" to "promote itself and its central aim of 'ever closer union'," alleges a new study by Open Europe, a UK-based think tank. But the report's findings were denied by the European Commission, which said it "makes no apologies" for supporting schemes such as the Erasmus student exchage programme.

Citizens meeting over the weekend in Brussels presented the results of a year of participatory democracy projects and called for more EU engagement in social issues, migration, the environment and education. Their message will be conveyed to EU leaders ahead of a summit on 14 December in Brussels.

A new plan, to be adopted this week, will propose greater cooperation between institutions and a stronger role for national governments in an attempt to improve the way the EU communicates with its citizens ahead of European elections in 2009. But resistance from Parliament has forced the Commission to scale down its ambitions, according to a draft seen by EurActiv.

Ahead of the Commission's presentation of the new communication priorities for the EU institutions next week (3 October), MEP Helga Trüpel explains why there will be resistance from the Parliament and Council and argues in favour of a legal basis for communication policy.

Even though the June Summit consultations among member states continue behind closed doors, a group of EU policymakers have taken up proposals by citizens and have vowed to make their voices heard. The consultations show that citizens are results-oriented and are in favour of having "more Europe".

The last round of national 'Citizens' Consultations' on the EU's future-policy orientations has ended, providing a perspective on where Europe should be heading from each of the 27 member states.

MEP Andrew Duff presented his proposal on how to “rescue” the Constitution. Communication Commissioner Margot Wallström welcomed his initiative, but also offered diverging views on certain issues.

A new report by the European Citizen Action Service (ECAS) sees the EU's communication challenge as being not to provide more debate but more information. ECAS demands a new Treaty article giving citizens the "right to information".

The future of Europe after the no votes on the Constitution, the plan D activities of member states and the Commission's communication strategy passed a critical review at a conference organised by ECAS.

S. Kurpas, M. Brüggemann and C. Meyer (CEPS) critically assess the proposals in Commissioner Wallström's EU White Paper on Communication and formulate suggestions on how to put flesh on the bones of its ambitions.

Amid growing citizens' dissatisfaction with the EU's policy delivery, European institutions will this week (8-12 May) focus on the debate about the future direction of the Union.

A new brochure published by the European Citizen Action Service outlines state of play and options on the future of Europe after the rejection by France and the Netherlands of the EU Constitution.