EU launches media strategy

From Euronews:

The European Commission has launched a comprehensive audiovisual media strategy to "increase coverage of EU affairs," and help people engage in the wider European debate.
The move is part of Commission Vice President Margot Wallström's "Plan D for Democracy, Dialogue and Debate," launched in 2005, to promote interest in the EU and address citizens lack of trust in the institution.
The Commission intends to increase production of high quality edited reports and video news as the institution is keen to better illustrate or explain European policies.
The plan gives some cause for concern with journalist Marc Gruber of European Federation of Journalists saying, "deciding what is newsworthy is the job of journalists, not of European institutions."

I welcome any effort to increase awareness of the European dimension, but if EUTube (particularly its video playlist 'The EU Explained') is anything to go by, all we'll get is a steady stream of purile pro-European propaganda rather than anything that would make EU citizens more euro-savvy.


Jacki Davis interviewing Vice President Margot Wallström last October

Clegg breaks a sweat

Nick Clegg believes that the lack of an 'Iraq Factor' could hold the Lib Dems back on May 1. The Lib Dem coalition debacle last summer, the wobbles concerning the Welsh leadership and the political assassination of Menzies Campbell wouldn't have helped either. In fact unless Lib Dem councillors have inspired more confidence among voters than the party's representatives in Cardiff Bay and Westminster have, then they'll be in for a whole lot of hurt. Nick Clegg plainly hopes that the Brown Factor will keep his party's head above water...

Gordon doesn't get it

Gordon Brown had this to say about the possible continued success of nationalist parties in Wales and Scotland:

“I think that when people look at the future of our country they will see that interdependence is the way forward – people recognising the links they have with each other. And I think people will think less of the attractions of what is an attempt to return to a 19th century state through independence.”

Funny that, because I seem to recall a Welsh politician talking about "interdependence". Now who was it? Ah yes, it was Dafydd Elis-Thomas of Plaid Cymru writing for Radical Wales back in 1988:

For Scotland, the SNP is embracing a notion of independence within Europe. Interdependence within Europe would be a more acceptable slogan, but I think we understand the point. It seems to me quite clear that the only road for greater self-government for Wales is through relating what happens in Wales to what happens in Europe. If we succeed in replacing the British dimension with a European dimension in our thinking, then we will have become already the Welsh European internationalists that we always were in our hearts.

Obviously Gordo didn't understand the point, but then that's no great surprise. As for "19th century" thinking, what about all that business with waving the Union Jack, eh Gordon?

Rainbow London Mayor's debate

This video was featured on Have I Got News For You last night.