Litouws voorzitterschap benadrukt belang stimuleren pro-Europese bewegingen (en)

Communication specialists should stimulate pro-European movement in the European Union more actively and, with the European Parliament elections coming up, help citizens to better understand what the European Union stands for, and what it is against, said the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Vytautas Leškevičius on October 16 in Brussels, opening the European Conference on Public Communication EuroPCom.

Communication experts should work closely with European movements, speak out and help citizens understand better what the European Union stands for and what it is against. Moreover, we have parties at the European level, and good coordination of their operations with the national parties will allow holding the campaign at the full scale of the European Union,” stated V. Leškevičius.

The Vice-Minister emphasised that these efforts are significant in seeking that next year’s European Parliament is resistant at a time when the gradually growing radical anti-European movements pose a danger to European values. V. Leškevičius said that the topic of this year’s conference, the choice of Europe, which withstood the crisis, is particularly important not only in preparation for the European Parliament elections in May of 2014, but also this year commemorating the Year of Citizens, which is also funded by the Lithuanian Presidency of the EC Council.

“The slogan of the future election campaign “Act. React. Impact” suits perfectly communication specialists, because the race for European hearts and minds next year will not be easy,” said V. Leškevičius.

The EuroPCom conference organised for the fourth time by the Committee of the Regions is designed for EU publicising and communication, especially within the regions of Member States. This year it is organised in collaboration with the Lithuanian Presidency in the EC Council. Seventy presenters and 700 auditors - communication experts from Member States, EU institutions and non-governmental organisations and enterprises, will participate in the event.