The European Parliament,

-  having regard to it resolution of 14 May 1998(1) on the information and communication policy in the European Union,

A.  noting the poor public awareness of the activities and opportunities of the Union, reflected in the increasingly sceptical attitude towards further integration,

B.  noting that few EU citizens are aware of the input European integration has in their daily lives,

C.  wishing to see, in each Member State, regional and local EU information relays and networks mobilised to a greater extent around a common information and communication strategy that is oriented towards European integration and European citizenship,

D.  regretting the lack of a genuine public debate about the major challenges the EU is currently facing, in particular enlargement, monetary union and the common foreign and security policy,

E.  noting that the peoples of the EU lack knowledge of the cultures and ways of life of those who live on the other side of regional and national borders, especially in the case of the applicant countries,

F.  whereas any strategy for implementing an effective information and communication policy has to take account of the educational aspects and of the appropriate instruments (e.g. financial, media, etc.) so as to achieve a match between the visibility of the European Union's policies and actions and the expectations of its citizens,

G.  stressing that the communication policy of the European institutions requires urgent adjustment,

H.  recalling that in its legislative working programme for the year 2000, as well as in its statement in the European Parliament on 14 April 2000, the Commission announced the adoption of a communication on the policy of proximity to the citizen (information strategy) and dialogue in the second quarter of 2000; regretting that this communication has not been issued yet,

I.  noting with concern that the reallocation of responsibilities in the field of information policy is considerably delaying the adoption of decisions in this area,

1.  Calls on the Commission to adopt as rapidly as possible the communication on information strategy and to submit it to the Council and to the European Parliament;

2.  Calls upon all EU institutions to co-ordinate their information and communication activities and focus on specific target groups, while respecting their autonomy and institutional roles, in order to maximise effectiveness;

3.  Calls on the European Union to launch information campaigns on the problems and challenges associated with enlargement;

4.  Calls upon Member States to improve information and communication on EU matters which affect citizens in their daily lives and to enhance synergies with the information and communication activities carried out by EU institutions;

5.  Calls on the European Union to develop an information and communication policy which revolves around two man axes, namely the educational dimension and the use of appropriate instruments designed to meet the public's expectations;

6.  Resolves when implementing the information policy, to pay special attention to certain target groups, such as young people, in particular by making available to teachers educational material on Europe; calls on the Commission to do the same;

7.  Considers that information and communication activities on EU matters must be aimed at promoting public debate and awareness;

8.  Calls on the Commission to mobilise to a greater extent the information relays and networks which have direct contact with the citizens of the European Union;

9.  Calls on the Commission to ensure that the White Paper on youth policy currently being drawn up, takes account of the importance of having an effective communication and information policy on European integration;

10.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the governments and parliaments of the Member States.

(1) OJ C 167, 1.6.1998, p. 230.