Est. 2min 09-07-2007 (updated: 28-05-2012 ) Cox_Pat.jpg Euractiv is part of the Trust Project >>> Languages: Français | DeutschPrint Email Facebook X LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Rebuilding citizens’ trust in the EU remains the biggest challenge it faces during the Portuguese and Slovenian Presidencies, a European Movement Conference in Berlin on 29 June concluded. The Portuguese Presidency has set itself an ambitious agenda, calling an Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) for July 23 – to deliver a new Treaty for approval at an EU summit in October. The next 12 months will be challenging for the Portuguese and Slovenian Presidencies, as they have to prepare the EU-Africa Summit scheduled for December 2007, deliver progress on global trade negotiations, reach consensus on issues such as the European Technology Institute and Galileo, and implement plans to cut C02 emissions by 20% before 2020. The conference outlined the challenges ahead for the EU, and highlighted a number of priorities for the Portuguese and Slovenian Presidencies to address: Reconciling the EU with its citizens, and rebuild trust that has been jeopardised after the failed referenda on the Constitutional Treaty and subsequent period of reflection. Finalising the liberalisation and harmonisation of postal services and the telecommunications and energy sectors – as well as moving to allow complete free movement of goods – in the context of the 15 year review of the internal market. Improving industrial policy by making progress on better regulation, the automobile sector, ICT, maritime policy, and biotechnology. Continuing to develop the ‘flexicurity’ concept in the context of the forthcoming ten-year review of the European Employment Strategy. Reinforcing the innovation, research, and knowledge triangle. It stressed that this would be vital for the Union’s future prosperity. Developing a global approach to migration, and improve legislation on legal migration to increase access to the European labour market for highly skilled workers. Developing relations with Africa in the context of the forthcoming EU-Africa Summit in December 2007. Developing relations between the EU and neighbouring countries such as Russia, Serbia and Macedonia. Extending the Schengen area and the eurozone. The conference also concluded that the structural and cohesion funds will be of central policy importance for both presidencies. Read more with Euractiv Brussels seeks to politicise EU debates In response to the low turnouts in recent European elections, the Commission has decided to pour funds into political foundations at European level in a bid to politicise EU debates and make EU politics more interesting at national and local level. Subscribe now to our newsletter EU Elections Decoded Email Address * Politics Newsletters Positions EURACTIV.com Publisher Christophe Leclercq and Deputy Secretary-General of the European Movement Christoph Linden presented the results of citizens' consultations carried out in the framework of the Commission's Plan D project. They also presented the stakeholders' evaluation of the German Presidency's communications and handling of policy issues, and summarised stakeholders' expectations for the forthcoming presidencies. European Movement President Pat Cox said: "Most political debates during the IGC, where crucial decisions are taken, need public scrutiny… This would help media and the general public to understand what these negotiations are about. It would disclose the real positions of the various governments and help end speculation… It would be a good start for the Portuguese Presidency and would add legitimacy to a process that, compared with the European Convention, loses out on the involvement of parliaments, civil society and openness." A EURACTIV round table evaluating Germany's EU communications during its presidency brought together experts and professionals experienced in localising EU news in other countries. Participants discussed interaction with citizens and stakeholders under the German Presidency, as well as the information provided by the Presidency and the Commission. The round table also highlighted the role of the media, NGOs and think-tanks as both multipliers and watchdogs of the information provided by official sources. BackgroundThe conference – entitled 'From Berlin to Lisbon to Ljubljana' – was hosted by European Movement President and former Parliament president Pat Cox, and brought together stakeholders from across Europe. The aim of the conference was to evaluate the German EU Presidency and the resulting June Summit - which were successes, it concluded - and look forward to the new challenges facing Portuguese and Slovenian presidencies. It particularly highlighted the need to reconcile the EU with its citizens following the failed referenda on the Constitutional Treaty in France and the Netherlands in 2005 and the subsequent period of reflection. The Commission's White Paper on Communication Policy – launched in February 2006 - seeks to tackle the increasing lack of trust shown in the EU project by its citizens, and citizens' consultations were recently carried out by the Commission under the Plan D framework. In this context, EURACTIV organised an informal round table at the Berlin conference to evaluate the Union's Communication Policy. Timeline 1 July 2007: Portugal took over the EU Presidency. 23 July 2007: IGC on new treaty begins. Oct. 2007: IGC completes its work. Autumn 2007: German government organises a conference to present the results of its initiatives and to draw conclusions as to which communications and involvement formats have proven to be successful. 1 Jan. 2008: Slovenia takes over EU Presidency. Further ReadingEuropean Union European Commission:Homepage: Directorate General Communication [FR] [FR] [DE] EU Actors positions European Movement:Press Release - Pat Cox: The IGC needs public scrutiny(3 July 2007) European Movement:European Reform Treaty as an important step forward: The Constitutional process should go on(June 2007) European Movement:Conference Programme: 'From Berlin to Lisbon to Ljubljana'(29 June 2007)
