The communication policy of the European Commission: radio broadcasting since the 90s, from Radio E to Euranet Plus

Abstract

In the middle of the most pronounced economic crisis since its inception, many of the communication policies initiated by the European Union in recent decades must be evaluated and redefined considering the future of the Union. The challenge to define Europe and create a common identity that respects the diversity of cultures within the Union has been attempted through various media policies. We explore the recent evolution of European radio policies, considering a range of projects from the global to network levels (e.g. Radio E, Euranet and Euranet Plus) that are fundamental to our understanding of the use of media in the development of a European identity that respects the diversity of cultures within the Union.

EU Public Legitimation in the Social Media Era: Co‐ordinating the Political Communication of the European Commission

“…Historically, EU integration has been based on consensus among elites and technocratic governance (Foster et al, 2021; Haverland et al, 2018), with a ‘closed door’ policy in communication affairs (Brüggemann, 2010; Meyer, 1999). The underlying rationale was that top‐down, informed Europeans would be less sceptical (Gallego et al, 2015; Sternberg, 2016). In the fourth phase of political communication, however, this approach is inadequate due to the networked nature of communication and the increased competition for positive attention and agenda‐setting.…”

“…Critics would claim that vertical co‐ordination is in line with the traditional EU technocracy, which is ‘vertical and unidirectional, designed to facilitate a top‐down, bureaucratic style of communication’ (Gallego et al, 2015, p. 15). As mentioned above, this is not an appropriate response in the SM era, since fast‐running news circles in hybrid media systems can hardly be controlled.…”

“…The Commission's White Paper on European Governance 2001 suggested a turning point in the communication strategies of European institutions towards more horizontal co‐ordination. This was to be achieved via communication policy that made use of networks, civil society organizations and local authorities (Gallego et al, 2015) in throughput processes. Prodi also argued that the EU should deliver more efficient problem‐solving.…”

“…She introduced the so‐called Plan D – Democracy, Dialogue and Debate – which called for a communication model built on inclusion and co‐operation with civil society (Ivic, 2011). The Plan D strategy was outlined in a new white paper (European Commission, 2006), which, according to Gallego et al (2015), ‘set out a strategy to transform its unidirectional style of institutional communication into a stronger, two‐way citizen‐focused dialogue’ (p. 16). In the paper, titled ‘Communicating about Europe via the Internet, Engaging the Citizens’ (European Commission, 2007), the Commission recognized the potential for communication via the Internet.…”

Capítulo 14. La construcción de una esfera pública europea a través de la colaboración y la innovación: A European Perspective, la redacción más grande de Europa

“…Euronet Plus nacía en el 2007 como una radio transnacional fruto de la colaboración entre 13 emisoras de radio europeas (tanto públicas como privadas), con el objetivo de dar cobertura a asuntos europeos. Con una emisión semanal de tan solo 75 minutos en 12 idiomas oficiales de la UE, Euronet Plus atraviesa dificultades derivadas de su debilidad estructural (ligada, en parte, al hecho de que no participan en esta red los principales medios públicos europeos) y de la dispersión de su audiencia (Gallego;Fernández Sande;Demonget, 2015).…”