Warm welcome awaits EU citizens

Date: 12/02/1998

By Leyla Linton

BRINGING the European Union closer to the people is a phrase which trips easily off the tongue of politicians.

Yet many EU citizens still regard the institutions as remote, unreal organisations whose staff are overpaid and out of touch.

To counter these negative perceptions, the European Commission and Parliament encourage members of the public to visit the two institutions through programmes which welcome thousands of people every year.

Last year alone, a total of 35,000 people visited the Commission, divided about equally between professionals and elected officials and the general public.

For the former, who tend to be seeking in-depth information and want to meet Commission officials, there are 'priority visits' based on specially tailored programmes lasting from one and a half to two days. Other visitors are given a more general introduction.

The demand for visits is high and the Commission has to turn down around 20% of requests because either it does not have enough staff to look after the guests or enough officials who can spare the time to speak. Certain topics, such as the single currency, are particularly in demand.

"We would love to see everyone. We hate to say 'no' as people are coming at their own request," says Ylva Thivéus, head of the Commission's Citizens and Media Centre, which is responsible for visits. "It is important that the Commission stays open. People should have the possibility to have direct contact with officials here."

Visits are organised on a first-come, first-served basis with no set limits on the number of visitors from any one country. However, all Danish requests are being met at the moment because of the country's looming referendum on the Treaty of Amsterdam.

The importance of the visits, according to Thivéus, lies in the fact that what the guests see has much more impact than what they hear or read.

"The image will stay," she explains, adding that visitors tended to be "very positive" about the experience because they were welcomed in their own language.

"We never get a negative reaction. We take pride in receiving people. They do not meet arrogant officials because they do not exist," she adds.

The Parliament receives even more visitors than the Commission. Last year, more than 252,000 people passed through its doors, up from 229,000 the previous year and 190,000 in 1995.

Niall O'Neill, who is responsible for looking after English-speaking visitors to the Parliament, says improved facilities at the institution and the enlargement process are two factors behind the increase.

The number of visitors from outside the EU has soared over the last five years, up from 5,000 in 1993 to twice that number last year, with people from the countries which have applied for Union membership accounting for much of the increase.

There is no target figure for visitors, but each MEP is entitled to invite 70 people a year, the bulk of whom tend to be political activists. Groups sponsored by MEPs are eligible for some financial support, usually amounting to between 25% and 40% of their costs.

Other visitors include representatives from colleges, universities, local authorities and senior citizens.

The aim of the Parliament's visitors programme is to explain how the institution works, focusing on the role and function of the Parliament as a political institution. "It is an information visit, not a tourist attraction. It is no good just seeing the chamber," says O'Neill.

During a typical tour, a visitor might learn how the Parliament operates, meet an MEP, take part in a question-and-answer session and observe a plenary session.

The basic core is the same, but visits will be tailored for groups with special interests. National deputies or a group of 18-year-olds, for example, will each have a programme adapted to their needs. The Parliament takes a personal approach and does not rely on standardised videos.

"It is important to show them the practical side of how the Parliament works," explains O'Neill. "For example, the Women's Institute from the UK might be interested in topics such as food quality or consumer issues."

Others, such as teachers, regional authority representatives and university lecturers take part in seminars which can last between a day and a day and a half.

O'Neill says reactions from visitors vary according to nationality. "For British visitors, it is a real eye-opener as it does not accord with the image they have. The bureaucracy is not as large as they imagine."

He sees between 15 and 20 groups a week, and clearly enjoys the work. "The feedback is generally positive. It shows we are not living in an ivory tower. The direct contact gives me a lot of job satisfaction," he explains.

In order to cope with the high level of demand for visits, the Commission and Parliament sometimes pool their resources as the latter has a large range of suitable meeting rooms while the former can field a greater number of speakers.

"When it is convenient, we try to put groups together. It is a partnership on an informal basis," says Thivéus.

Feature on the EU's visits programme for European citizens to see the EU Institutions.