Institutional Transparency and Communication to Citizens. European Initiatives and the Role of Formez

Public opinion trust in the European Union is at an all-time low and the causes are closely related to the fact that citizens declare that they know very little about Community institutions and their decision-making processes. This is what emerged from the last Eurobarometer survey, a European Commission analysis service.
The challenge to gain public consensus about an ideal concept of the European Union, must also aim at institutional transparency. Mr Siim Kallas, European Commissioner for Administrative Affairs, Audit and Anti-Fraud, is convinced about this and promoted a debate on the topic in March 2005 which proposed to launch the European Transparency Initiative (ETI). On November 9th, 2005, Ms Margot Wallström, Vice-President of the Commission, Commissioner Kallas, Ms Danuta Hübner, Commissioner for Regional Policy, and Ms Fischer Boel, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, turned the proposal of March 2005 into a formal Communication directed to the European Commission as a whole.
The communication of November 9th foresees the publication of a Green Paper in the first months 2006 and suggests that concrete actions be taken in four main sectors: Information for the Beneficiaries of EU Funds, Fight against Fraud, Transparency on Lobbying, Ethical Standards and Responsibilities of European Decision-makers. The communication proposes to launch a debate for the definition of common ethical rules for those parties involved in decision-making process: Commissioners and Commission functionaries, European Parliament and Council members. In particular the communication suggests the establishment of an inter-institutional consultation group in order to evaluate cases of poor behaviour with potential sanctions.
The Channel for Public Communication of Formez will follow the debate on transparency in relation to the new communications strategy of the European Commission and the re-programming of 2007-2013 Structural Funds. In order to analyze in depth the themes of transparency and communications in Europe, please click on:
· 9/11/2005 communication
· other Formez news on ETI initiative
· other Formez news on the new EU communications strategy
· Formez useful guide "The Future of Communications in Europe"
· article on the conference “Internet and Transparency on Structural Funds” and the TelePA service
· the web page on 2007-2013 Structural Funds