Panel: EU Channels of Communication with Serbia’s Citizens Congested

Paul-Henri Presset (Photo: print screen/Youtube/ FRIEDRICH EBERT STIFTUNG OFFICE BELGRADE)

EU channels of communication with Serbia’s citizens were often overloaded with the amount and type of information coming in from various sides, which required a revision of communication means, according to conclusions of panel titled “EU-Serbia: Lost in Translation,” held on Nov. 16.  

Panelists in the debate, organized by the European Movement in Serbia, stressed that communication was a two-way street and that problems also existed in communication to the local public and in communication to the countries which held reserves to the enlargement process. They also said that the EU itself had problems in communication with citizens in the accession countries.  

The head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Information, Communication and Media Office, Paul-Henri Presset, said that communication was not necessarily poor, but that it was uncomfortable and difficult. He stressed that EU communication significantly differed for each country, noting that in Serbia, EU had to address citizens directly and transparently explain everything and engage them in the process.

According to him, the problem is the absence of in-depth debates. Speaking about media reporting, Presset described it as “shallow.” “It would be most important to have citizens understand how the EU will impact their lives for the better. We would like them to see that the EU offers stability, peace and democracy,” Presset specified.