No. 15

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Alternatives for updating Estonian EU communication policy

  • Õnne Mets

    Information specialist of the EU Information Centre at the National Library

The article argues that the Estonian EU information network should be updated in order to create synergy between information networks coordinated by Estonia and the EU.

For this purpose, three alternative starting points are proposed: Estonian EU information network could contribute to development of civic society, making the EU more understandable for the public and getting the parliament involved. In a word, the network could contribute to the development of the Estonian public sphere.

The article highlights the need to give to the coordinating body of the network (i.e. EU Information Unit at State Chancellery) the power of decision concerning the network. Alternative locations of network members are also discussed: central libraries, other existing networks (e.g. Enterprise Estonia’s regional offices), and local or county governments.

In order to put the national EU information network into the service of two-way communication, the author suggests giving more attention to stakeholders. The following are discussed as the most important alternative stakeholders: the Riigikogu’s European Union Affairs Committee, the European Union Secretariat at State Chancellery, public relations officials at ministries, representations of European Commission and European Parliament and journalists. These stakeholders could provide interpretation of the EU topic and could use the feedback in policy-making process.

Full article in Estonian

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