By Bruno Waterfield in Brussels
Last Updated: 12:29AM GMT 27 Dec 2008
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/belgium/3965512/EU-spends-2bn-each-year-on-vain-PR-exercises.html
New research by Open Europe, a think-tank that supports EU
reform, has found that so-called European "information" campaigns
are one-sided and boast a budget that is bigger than Coca-Cola's
total worldwide advertising account.
One publication, entitled How the European Union works,
described the EU as "a remarkable success story".
Another English-language "information" pamphlet claimed the EU
"is delivering a better life for everyone" and described the single
market as "a winning formula."
The researchers also found a European Commission document that
admitted: "Neutral factual information is needed of course, but it
is not enough on its own. Genuine communication by the EU cannot be
reduced to the mere provision of information."
Lorraine Mullally, director of Open Europe, said: "Taxpayers
should not be footing the bill for vain PR exercises to make us
love the EU. The EU needs urgent and radical reform, not expensive
campaigns to improve its image."
The research also found that projects, such as the EU's School
Milk Scheme, come with propaganda strings attached.
"The scheme requires schools to display a European school milk
poster which must be 'permanently situated at a clearly visible and
readable place at the main entrance' of the school," finds the
study.
"It even specifies that the poster must be 'A3 or bigger, with
letters 1cm or bigger'."
Other campaigns target young people. One project in late 2008
was themed "From Shakespeare to Euro Rap".
Events included: "Poetry Slam competition - Europe: I have a
dream".
Miss Mullally said: "People certainly need to know more about
the EU, but the EU has proved unable and unwilling to provide
neutral, factual information. This senseless spending on dubious PR
projects has got to stop."
EU and European Commission officials have stepped up
"information" campaigns following a series of referendum rejections
over the last three years.
Recent Brussels polling has also deeply alarmed Euro-MPs by
finding that only that only two per cent of Britons are aware that
European elections are taking place next year.
A pre-Christmas Eurobarometer opinion survey found that the
already low levels of interest in next June's elections were
actually declining as the vote gets closer.
"The number of citizens who say they are likely to vote is less
than it was six months ago," found polling published last week.