EU information review of the year 2011 Ian Thomson Director, Cardiff EDC, Cardiff University Executive Editor, European Sources Online President, European Information Association Zagreb 25 October 2011

New Institutions New faces Big challenges facing the EU… New Institutions New faces …What role for information and communication ?

Public Opinion and Europe: The challenge… With the evidence of low participation rates in the EP elections the referendum results in Denmark, France, the Netherlands and Ireland declining support for the EU in Eurobarometer opinion polls Communicating Europe effectively has become an issue of major concern to the EU Institutions a need to communicate effectively with citizens and stakeholders a need to professionalise the way information is communicated a need to use new media to get information and messages across However, the question still arises… Will more effective communication make citizens ‘love’ the EU or are the challenges greater or more complex?

EU information review of the year 2010 Key themes Making the EU more transparent European Transparency Initiative Access to documents Connecting with Citizens European Citizens’ Initiative Participation of citizens and stakeholders Use of Social Media & other new forms Smart Regulation Consultation / Impact Assessment / Evaluation / Implementation / EURLEX / Simplification / Consolidation / Codification / Recasting

New Institutions New faces EU information review of the year 2011 New Institutions New faces Making the EU more transparent

New Institutions New faces Making the EU more transparent Is it necessary … or not… New Institutions New faces European Ombudsman: 33% of all complaints regard transparency, May 2011

Making the EU more transparent Access to documents Making the EU more transparent Proposal to amend Regulation 1049/2001 still being negotiated September 2011: still awaiting 1st Reading Vote in European Parliament. Why the delay? Draft EP Report, September 2011 January 2011: Over 250 organisations, journalists and campaigners call for MEPs to reject measures to limit public access to information March 2011: General Court of the European Union rules refusal illegitimate. Access Info wins case against Council on open legislative procedure August 2011: Appeal by the Council against the pro-transparency decision of the General Court - Case C-280/11 P

Making the EU more Transparent European Transparency Initiative Find details of organisations that seek to influence (‘lobby’) the EU Register is a voluntary requirement. Transparency Register is new in 2011 and will combine the functions of the old European Commission Register of Interest Representatives and European Parliament Register of Lobbyists Some discussion as to Council joining the Register

Making the EU more Transparent European Transparency Initiative ECJ Judgement in Nov 2010 regarding German farmers and CAP: A blow for transparency Draft European Commission Code of Conduct for Commissioners, December 2010 [Alter-EU Reaction, January 2011] ‘Revolving doors’

New Institutions New faces EU information review of the year 2011 New Institutions New faces Connecting with Citizens

Interactive Communication: Participatory democracy initiatives A new form of public participation in EU policy-making First cross-border attempt at ‘direct democracy’ Regulation No.211/2011 … on the Citizens’ Initiative The ECI will allow EU citizens to request new legislation 1 million citizens from at least 25% of the EU Member States can request European Commission to bring forward legislative proposals Citizens’ Committee of at least 7 people from 7 Member States to administer the campaign Who pays for the administration of the scheme Registration from 1 April 2012

Interactive Communication: Participatory democracy initiatives 3rd Agora, January 2011 Crisis and forms of poverty

Interactive Communication: Participatory democracy initiatives Giving school children across the EU the opportunity to debate, negotiate and reach consensus on EU issues

Interactive Communication: Participatory democracy initiatives

Social Media

Social Media

TV – Web-streaming for EU information

TV – Web-streaming for EU information

New Institutions New faces EU information review of the year 2011 New Institutions New faces Smart Regulation

Better, simpler and more accessible legislation Smart Regulation Better, simpler and more accessible legislation Reduced legislative activity - ‘Better regulation’ Better quality legislation after consultation Impact assessments Better quality drafting - Explanatory memorandum Greater use of alternative legislative instruments Consolidation, codification and recasting Simplification Transposition & application of EU law (Implementation) Evaluation Better Law-making 2010 report COM(2011)344

New Institutions New faces Smart Regulation Access to legislation New Institutions New faces You can now find electronic copies of pre-1998 OJ online + COM & SEC docs New version of EUR-LEX in 2012 Lex-Alert is now working

EU information review of the year 2011 Ian Thomson Thank you for your attention Further information thomsoni@cardiff.ac.uk EUi Seminar, Zagreb 25 October 2011 © Ian Thomson