Gallup Europe's Chairman, Robert
MANCHIN presented some highlights from the survey results
at the launch of the Can EU Hear
Me report, at the Roundtable
"WHAT 'BIG IDEA' FOR THE BARROSO COMMISSION?"
at the La Bibliotheque Solvay.
Mr. MANCHIN pointed out that while the recommendations
we have tested were usually welcomed quite unanimously by
the expert public, some patterns emerged from a more thorough
analysis of the results.
We found four underlying dimensions that are
in the foundation of the overall support for initiatives
aiming at enhanced communication for the future Commission.
(Applied method was Multi Dimensional Scaling, click to
enlarge the charts)
1 -- there is a coherent preference to focus
on the PROFESSIONAL, BROADCASTING
approach (such as setting up a "Newsroom" at the
EU, or to start a soap about "Euro-land, or to use
general communication guidelines in all EU-funded projects.")
2 -- the second group of thought is characterised of INFORMATION
gathering and transmission (studies to be made, and school
curricula extended with EU-related material)
3 -- a significant group is what we might characterise
as a demand for more and more accentuated VISIBILITY
(Daily presence, EU needs more drama, Barroso has to be
more visible, etc.)
4 -- and finally, the CRITICS
of the EU communication performance have a great share in
the opinions (with suggesting that all communication should
be decentralised, Eurocrats should spend time in their home
country, they should be remunerated like any other EU citizen,
etc.)
The second slide illustrates to what extent these thought
patterns characterise decision maker of different "origin".
We have looked at average agreement with the recommendations
that were categorised in each of the four categories and
we looked at differences according to the characteristics
of the experts.
First and foremost, the younger generation of decision
makers are clearly more supportive towards the more contemporary
approach more extensively using the tools offered the electronic
mass media, compared to the older generation of leaders.
The latter group seems to believe more than young professionals
do in an overwhelming and salient presence all over the
Union, with values clearly communicated and high ranking
officials regularly portrayed in the Member States.
Those who deal with EU matters professionally
and tackle with the abundance of EU information on a daily
basis (i.e. have their jobs connected to the EU) are much
more likely to share the information-oriented mindset compared
to those who are not directly involved in the life of the
Union. The latter group is, however, much more likely to
be critical than those with EU-related jobs. Interestingly,
professionals from the New Member States and the Candidate
Countries are more likely to express a critical opinion
about the EU compared to the experts in the previous MS.
At the same time, experts in the EU-15 countries are more
likely to agree that a more intense visibility would be
favourable for the Commission.
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