EUROPEAN UNION: INFORMATION CAMPAIGNS ON ENLARGEMENT AND THE FUTURE OF EUROPE PLANNED.

On the adoption of the Communication entitled "An information and communication strategy of the European Union" (see European Report 2698 for further details), Commission President Romano Prodi concluded that "the College should hold a general debate on this topic at least twice a year, in principle on the dissemination of the results of Eurobarometer surveys". Four priority information themes were identified: "the area of freedom, security and justice", "Europe's role in the world", "enlargement" and "the future of the Union". According to the two most recent Eurobarometer surveys, these last two themes will be particularly relevant and of major importance in 2003.

A coincidence of timing means the complementary nature of these two issues will be enhanced in 2003. An increase has been observed in unease over the potential negative effects of enlargement on Union decision-making with 76% of those questioned believing it will become more difficult. In this context, the European elections in 2004 are likely to be seen as a form of referendum on the entire process of adapting the European Union to its new dimension, according to the Commissioner responsible, Antonio Vitorino, in his memorandum to his Commission colleagues.

Reassurance on the consequences of enlargement.

General awareness of enlargement in the European Union had increased by seven percentage points to 82% in December, compared with 75% in September. However, awareness of the candidate countries and the timetable for their accession remains poor (about 30%). Likewise, concern is increasing over the negative consequences that enlargement may have for social protection (notably in Germany) and decision-making at Union level. An overall communication and information budget of Euro 21 million for PRINCE (Euro-related information) within the Union and Euro 12.3 million under PHARE in the candidate countries is proposed to accompany the process.

Information actions implemented by European Commission representations in the Member States aim primarily to explain the process of enlargement and its consequences and to disseminate information on the candidate countries. To this end, the strategy was first to transmit adequate information to opinion formers in an attempt to respond to the concerns of specific categories of the population. The aim now is to move towards a broader strategy embracing the wider public. This decentralised strategy might in practice take the form of conventions...