Libro Bianco: ecco il contributo operativo del CIPR alla fase di consultazione avviata questa primav

Con la fine di settembre terminerà la fase di consultazione che la Commissione europea ha avviato attraverso la pubblicazione del Libro Bianco, lo scorso febbraio, con l'intento di raccogliere contributi progettuali e operativi al dibattito per una nuova politica europea di comunicazione.Qualche mese fa, il nostro sito pubblicava un primo contributo da parte di FERPI finalizzato a confluire in un paper redatto a livello europeo dalla Confederazione Europea delle Relazioni Pubbliche (Cerp).Questa settimana pubblichiamo la risposta alla Commissione europea elaborata dal Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) di Londra quale contributo al Libro Bianco sulla Comunicazione. Ecco di seguito il testo:
The CIPR response to the european commission white paper on a european communication policy'SummaryThe Chartered Institute of Public Relations welcomes the Commission's White Paper on European Communication Policy' and applauds it for:- seeking to improve citizens' understanding of what EU stands for and what it does- reaching out to civil society- looking for direct contact with citizens- putting communication and dialogue' at the heart of the democratic processThrough this statement the CIPR advocates the importance of professionalism in communication management and counsels the Commission to move forward its new communication policy by:-  making use of communication and pr professionals that are qualified and members of pr and communication professional associations-  seeking the best communication training available-  strengthening relations between the Commission and the pr and communication professional associations The CIPR recommendationsQ1: Defining common principles: which way forward?The CIPR thinks it is not necessary to implement a new Code of Conduct or European Charter on Communication to be subscribed by the EU institutions. Instead of adding a new code or a new piece of legislation, the CIPR suggests the Commission simply ensures that people in charge of communication within the EU Institutions are members of professional associations as they will necessary have to subscribe a code of conduct in order to demonstrate their commitment in managing communication professionally. Should the EC decide to develop a Code of Conduct or a European Charter on Communication, the CIPR recommends to draw the text from the best of existing national PR associations' codes and by engaging with them.Q2: How to reach out to the citizen?The CIPR considers it essential to involve more widely the civil society in the debate on Europe by acknowledging the different views on the EU. Cultural and political events relating to Europe and involving in debate the citizens are therefore welcomed by the CIPR. Direct discussions through meetings and events are preferable if compared with the installation of virtual meeting places' accessible on EU web sites. In particular, the ommission is recommended to connect with the CIPR to encourage, through cooperation, the public debate on EU issues in the UK. The Chartered Institute of Public Relations and its regional and sectoral groups could sustain the Commission in the UK by initiating cooperation projects for a series of meetings, seminars and networking events on European topics. Q3: How to involve the media more effectively?The CIPR supports the Commission's proposal to establish a European Programme for Training in Public Communication' under which officials could receive training in communication and media technologies. The Chartered Institute advises the Commission to engage with national PR and communications associations in order to seek the best training facilities available. If requested, the CIPR is happy to shore up the Commission with its established and accredited range of education programmes in public relations and communication management which are delivered by competent and expert professionals.Q4: What can be done more to gauge European opinion?The Commission needs to be felt as listening on an ongoing basis and not just when it is alerted by a crisis, such as after the failure of EU Constitution referendums for instance. That is why the CIPR is supportive of implementing public discussions that accompany the Eurobarometer' surveys by involving civil society organisations. However, CIPR also recommends the Commission ensures comments and opinions are effectively implemented in the EU policies and not just treated separately.Q5: How will the partnership work?The Chartered Institute endorses the creation of new, structured, forms of cooperation among national authorities dealing with public communication, so that best practices are shared. The CIPR recommends the Commission strengthens relations between the representations within member states and the national PR and communications associations who might keep up the debate on EU policies. In the UK, the Chartered Institute of Public Relations with its 8200 members from all sectors - including professionals in charge of communications on behalf of public authorities - can help the Commission with appropriate partnership programmes.