UK Government’s Europe site revamp, December 2005

A new version of the UK Government’s website on the EU is under construction and is due to be launched early in the new year. As part of the effort to get people more involved, it will include a discussion corner and the opportunity to register opinions. Developing a communication strategy for the UK Presidency has given a new thrust to the UK’s information policy on Europe and a longer term campaign is planned to continue next year once the Presidency role has been handed on. It is recognised that public opinion support for Europe in polls and surveys is low and that one explanation of this may be lack of awareness and information. During the UK Presidency the Europe Directorate of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has appointed a stakeholder manager to work with other agencies such as business and NGOs to disseminate information. The focus will be directed towards particular groups - women, youth and older people - and a limited range of key topics, including the environment, Africa and organised crime. The launch of the Europe Direct centres in the UK, held back by the Government in the election year as likely to raise objections from Eurosceptics of promoting pro-European views, is now to go ahead so the UK will - like the other member states - have wide public access to these sources of information about Europe. In practice the UK has been a leader in providing public access to information about the EU through the public library network and through the network of other official information relays such as European Documentation Centres and Euro Info Centres. The call for bids for the new funded relays is due to be launched shortly by the European Commission with an expected deadline of February 2006. Meantime watch out for progress on the new Government website construction at {http://www.europe.org.uk}.