Knowing in order to choose

The Vote? A responsible choice even more than a duty. The European Parliament launches its communication campaign in view of the elections scheduled for June 4-7 involving 375 million electors, from 27 Countries, 36 million of which will vote for the first time. Many initiatives to increase the turnout by “speaking the language of the people and not that of institutions”.(Previous fact files on SIR Euorpe n. 9, 11,13, 15, 17-20/ 2009)Important choices. The European Parliament’s communication strategy for the 2009 elections was recently unveiled in Brussels. EP Vice Presidents Alejo Vidal-Quadras (Spain) and Mechtild Rothe (Germany) outlined the key message: “The EU has major policy choices ahead which will affect the everyday lives of European citizens. By voting in the elections citizens can affect those choices”. Alejo Vidal-Quadras said the single message of the campaign “is about choice. It is not designed to appeal to citizens’ civic duty, but to highlight that there are major policy choices confronting the EU which will have an impact on people’s lives, choices taken at European level with the Parliament playing the leading role”. Vidal-Quadras also added how in the last five years European MPs have taken important stands in many EU policies, within a process that involves also the other European Institutions: Commission and Council. The Vice-President pointed out that these elections are “a great proof of democracy” for other countries and regions worldwide.Straightforward language. “The key thing is to speak the language that people speak, not only official terms – Mechtild Rothe said -but also feelings, political and cultural differences from one Member State to another”. Thus the message will be tailored to the different countries. The goal is to “communicate loud and clear that the European Parliament is important for the citizens and that their voice counts in the EU. Every voter has a choice to make: It’s your choice”. To “join Europe to its citizens and vice versa, to launch a vast information and communication campaign”, the Parliament’s national and central offices “are working in partnerships with local regional and national authorities”. Instruments and issues. The communication strategy set out some instruments: billboards designed to highlight issues addresses by the Assembly such as energy, climate change, food and agriculture, migration and consumer protection. 3-dimesional street installations (in 100 cities) will complement the poster campaign. For the first time together will TV and Radio ads also Internet messages will be available, plus the use of social media such as MySpace, Facebook, EuTube. The election web site (www.elections2009.eu, in 22 languages) offers practical information on the vote: election system, Assembly’s roles and powers, results achieved by the European Parliament 2004-2009 legislature. Among the novelties ” choice boxes”: a room-size “multimedia box”, in Brussels and other capitals, where voters can air their views. A selection of the recordings will be played daily on EuroparlTV e YouTube.Vote in each country. The Parliament press office led by Jaume Duch Guillot, specified “it is an institutional campaign”, therefore “un-biased”. Messages are sent to a broad range of political opinions, from most integralist ones to those worried of safeguarding national sovereignty”. In the meantime, the 27-country vote has been scheduled: Great Britain and Netherlands, June 4, Ireland, 5. The Czech Republic, June 5 and 6: Cyprus, Latvia, Malta and Slovakia, June 6. In Italy the vote is scheduled for June 6 in the afternoon and throughout Sunday 7. In Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Rumania, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden election will be held only in June 7. Bulgaria and Hungary still haven’t set the date that can probably be Sunday, June 7.