By Martin Banks - 16th February 2009
Citizens expectations are very high and our first task is to get people out to vote
Lieve Fransen
The EU’s network of 500 information centres spread across each member state has been put on "red alert" for the upcoming EU-wide poll.
Representatives of each of the centres gathered in the European parliament to official launch the so-called ‘Europe Direct network’ which aims to coordinate their efforts in the run-up to the elections.
Speaking at the launch, Lieve Fransen, director general of the commission’s communications directorate, said the overall aim was to sell the merits of the EU to an often-sceptical public.
She admitted, however, that parliament faced an "incredible challenge”, not least in persuading people to vote in the election, which runs from 4-7 June.
"Citizens expectations are very high and our first task is to get people out to vote," she said.
"We have to communicate to the electorate that their vote will make a difference and that voting in this election really does matter.
"But we also have to explain why their vote actually matters and that is the job of the information centres," said Fransen, who addressed two panel discussions, one on communication strategy ahead of the election, the other on the "history and relevance of the European parliament."
Among those participating at last Friday’s launch was Gyula Hagymasi, who helps run a Europe information centre in Hungary.
He said, "We have 17 such offices in Hungary and I can tell you that communicating what the EU does is a big challenge.
"However, that is part of our job and we are looking forward to the challenge."
Daniela Petrova, from Bulgaria, said, "It is up to the creativity of communications experts to get the ´can do´ message across to EU citizens.
"The information centres act as bridges between the EU institutions and citizens and will have a paramount role to play."
The launch of the network comes amid growing concern that voter turn-out in the election will fall to an all-time low.
Meanwhile, each centre has been invited to take part in a competition to see which produces the best election communications material.
The European commission will make available €200,000 to translate and reproduce the winning project. It will be published in all 22 languages and distributed to Europe Direct members.
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