No news can be good news

Date: 21/03/1996

News management is alive and well within the Commission.

Yves-Thibault De Silguy's people did a good job of keeping his speech to the European Parliament secret when he announced that the economic growth forecast was being cut back to about 2&percent; this year. His Cabinet made sure that, while Santer's own speech was well publicised in advance, the timing of de Silguy's less than encouraging news to MEPs was kept from hungry hacks who were unaware the Commissioner was there. Result: a mere footnote to other news in the next day's papers.

De Silguy's minders were also on hand to water down the impact of a speech given in London by Sir Leon Brittan on economic convergence. Its message was that there should not be another Exchange Rate Mechanism if the single currency plan creates 'ins' and 'outs'.

Entre Nous is told that, while the message may have been less than bombshell-like for the ordinary public, it annoyed de Silguy enough for him to block the release of its contents until past its planned embargo time, presumably to lessen its impact in the papers.

This is known as collegiate responsibility.