Update February 2006

On 1 st February 2006, the European Commission published its long awaited White Paper on Communication. The White Paper forms the third part of the Commission’s global strategy to restore citizens’ trust in the EU, including also Plan D and a Communication Action Plan published in July 2005. The document is not a traditional White Paper since many questions remain open. It states five areas for action.

• Development of a European Charter or Code of Conduct on Communication in order to anchor the right of information in the EU and national institutions.  
• "Empowering citizens" through tools and instruments to improve civic education, connect people to each other (e.g. physical and virtual discussion fora) and strengthen the relationship between citizens and institutions (in particular through an improvement of the Minimum standards for consultation). Most of the proposals that concern civil society are also present in Plan D.
• Improving work with the media, in particular through new technologies. The idea of a special EU news agency has been dropped from the final version.
• Understanding European public opinion better: amongst others, a network of national experts in public opinion research and an independent Observatory for European Public Opinion might be set up;
• The White Paper underlines the need to "do the job together" in partnership between EU institutions, member states, regional and local levels, political parties and civil society organisations.

The White Paper is based on an interactive approach, which includes to better listen to citizens’ concerns. Yet its main goal remains unclear: is it about informing, delivering a “message” (although accusations of “propaganda” are strongly rejected) or ensuring effective citizens’ participation?

A consultation has been launched, which will last until July 2006.  Comments can be posted on the European Commission website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/communication_white_paper/