Seen from Europe

Talking about Europe in a straightforward way

The Association of European Journalists (AEJ) was founded in San Remo (Italy) in 1961 by 70 journalists who at that time belonged to the six member countries of the European Economic Community (EEC). Europe has changed since then. The EEC no longer exists and the European Union now has 25 members. The AEJ, recognised by the Council of Europe and UNESCO, has adapted to the changes. Its general secretariat is based in Brussels, it has 24 sections, a membership of around a thousand journalists and it holds an annual congress.

"The AEJ’s activities remain in a national context, because, on our small scale, we face the same difficulties as the Europe of 25!" jokes Stephen Bunard, vice-president of the French section. "Nevertheless, the opening of the Turkish and Armenian sections will permit long-term communication with these countries and there are stronger collaborations between two or three sections."

The journalist, who presents a weekly European news update on BFM, the Belgian radio station, explains that the aim of the AEJ is "to create solidarity between the journalists who cover Europe;" adding, "they feel abandoned and isolated even within their own editorial team. In France, the media cover Europe during elections and this is often limited to the bare minimum. Information is presented from a specialist or institutional perspective, although the European idea should constantly nourish all subjects and major social issues."

Open to professional journalists from all disciplines and every medium, the French section, AJE-France, is "not just a mechanism for friendship and mutual aid, but also a trans-national working tool", observes Stephen Bunard, and adds, "We are not involved in political or European militancy but journalistic militancy. While there are magazines for senior citizens or snowboarding fanatics, there isn’t one covering European matters. We are journalistically irritated by this! It’s not about propaganda. We want to help people think European."

Encouraging the press to say more about Europe in their columns appears to be a cause lost before it has begun. So, in order to give greater visibility to European matters, in 2005 the AJE-France launched the Louise-Weiss prize for European journalism and is relying on the continuing education of young people. Five-day European seminars, including a trip to Brussels, are organised at schools of journalism. The French section, which has 250 sympathizers and half that number of members, also targets foreign journalists, with conferences held at the Centre d’accueil de la presse étrangère [foreign press reception centre] (CAPE) in Paris, and the general public.

"To say that the subject isn’t of interest is a well-worn cliché. The debate over the referendum showed that people are very interested in Europe. There are ways of talking about it very simply. That’s what we are doing in EuropePlusNet, an Internet magazine created in 2004 with the support of AJE -France. It talks about Europe, not the European Union, through social topics. It analyses the ways in which Europe has an influence on our daily lives. It talks about community networks, about what binds Europe, about culture. Subjects to do with the environment or how we insult each other in Europe go down very well!" In short, universal themes.

Three questions to Catherine Colonna, the minister responsible for European Affairs and former spokesman for the French presidency from 1995 to 2004.

"European issues shape our daily lives."

The AEJ works to improve knowledge of European affairs and to ensure that Europe finds its place in the media. What do you think about this?

Catherine Colonna: I can only rejoice at the action taken by the AEJ. Indeed, we provide financial support for their scheme enabling student journalists to go to Brussels, to the heart of the European institutions. The place of European affairs in the media is a subject to which I am very committed, because it is one of the keys to a better understanding of these questions, by the French especially.

Do the media have some responsibility for the "No" vote in the referendum on the European Constitution?

It’s not about handing out good or bad marks! What must be understood is that European affairs are no longer matters of foreign policy. They shape our daily lives, so we have to talk continually about Europe, discuss it constantly and not only in the run-up to elections. The media have an essential role to play in the matter!

You are the minister responsible for European Affairs and have experience as a spokesman for the presidency of the Republic. Are special initiatives needed to make the press and members of parliament more aware of European issues?

I think journalists’ training should also cover the importance of the European project. Particularly by going to Strasbourg and Brussels and, by being on the spot, understanding and appreciating how European institutions really work. MEPs are now more closely associated in the decision-making process on European affairs. Indeed, they are consulted on a greater number of European bills and I regularly accompany groups of MEPs to awareness sessions on these matters in Brussels and Strasbourg.

Olivia Marsaud
journalist