Summary:

  Tuesday, 14 April: Creative and innovative regions are key to beating the financial crisis This was the 4th edition of the Summer University and over the past four years, almost 250 journalists have had the chance to meet with EU representatives and exchange opinions on the topics that matter to them. This year, the event was dedicated to the European Year of Creativity and Innovation and the role of local and regional authorities in the financial crisis. Isidoro Gottardo, President of the EPP/CoR Group explained that the financial crisis and creativity and innovation are closely linked given the extraordinary challenges that Europe's regions are facing and the key role played by entrepreneurs in promoting regional development. Within this context, the EPP wants to safeguard support for SMEs and provide incentives for a green economy. Viviane Reding, European Commissioner for Information Society and Media spoke about the latest developments in EU ICT policy, as regard the broadband actions foreseen in the EU Recovery Plan. The decision to use €5bn of unspent budget on broadband and other innovative actions within agriculture is recognition of the growing importance of ICT in the economy and society. She concluded "Working together we can work out solutions to the crisis that make Europe stronger, fairer and more open to change and innovation." Luc Van den Brande, President of the CoR, thanked the EPP Group for the service that it has paid through the Summer University over the past four years. He explained that local and regional media are allies of the CoR in keeping the European message alive and understood. Under current conditions, Europe cannot afford to delay or neglect to find answers to pressing challenges including the environment, demographics and the social and economic crisis. Moreover, these challenges can only be solved through multi-level governance. "A coordinated response is needed to restore reliability – and this starts in our regions and cities." Werner Langen, Head of the German Delegation to the EPP-ED Group in the European Parliament, praised the initiative agreeing that it is difficult to get European Affairs into local and regional media. He continued to say that before finding a solution for the financial crisis, it is important to carry out a proper analysis. He mentioned the 2000 crisis in Asia, the attacks of September 11th and the resulting steps in the US. "Given the experience to date, we are going to have to make a considerable financial spending to get over the crisis." Riccardo Ventre, Member of the European Parliament, stressed that there are not just economic consequences, but also social aspects which need to be considered. He believes the media play an important role because citizens are calling their governments into question and the media represents a democratic tool for democracy. Moreover, he noted that there have been very different experiences given the diversity of Europe's regions. "There isn't a single solution; we need a variety of solutions." Christian Kremer, Deputy Secretary-General of the EPP, acknowledged that Europe is facing major challenges; the fight against climate change; regulation of global finances; the fight against a global recession. Within this context, citizens are aware that Member States are too small to go it alone. Furthermore, if it had not been for the single currency, there would have been a further collapse in currencies and this would have jeopardised the single market. "It is important to reiterate at this time that Europe is not part of the problem, but part of the solution." Cristina Gutierrez-Cortines, Member of the European Parliament, based her intervention on the role of tourism and how the maintenance of cultural heritage can benefit regional economies and help them to emerge from the crisis. She explained that the cultural and economic value of regions should be considered together and within this context, we must think in terms of sustainable development and future generations. "Cultural heritage is a resource: many places can only survive thanks to tourism." Dr. Olga Gritsai, Accommodating Creative Knowledge – Competitiveness of European Metropolitan Regions (ACRE), Project Manager said that local and regional policy makers regularly speak of the need to support creative knowledge as it boosts economic growth. In this way, creative knowledge can be a potential remedy against the financial crisis. "Enhancing creative potential is an option if we want to make life more comfortable during the crisis, but certain conditions must be in place." Maive Rute, European Commission, DG Enterprise and Industry, added 99% of all EU companies are defined as SMEs and they provide regions and cities with a large number of jobs. Micro companies have proved to be more resilient in the crisis and have been able to maintain the majority of their employees. It is therefore important to help SMEs and promote a culture of entrepreneurship. "In terms of employment and value added, SMEs are very important." Constance Hanniffy, Member of Offaly County Council and President of ECOS, pointed out that green SMEs are important for sustainable development and providers of jobs and growth. They have some potential in the economic recovery of regions, but it is also important to remember that the evolution of a green economy will cause some redundancy. "We need a policy response which encourages and supports the development of a green economy." Wednesday, 15 April: Journalists want clear, concise information about the EU Oscar Peters, University of Twente: The media has an important role to play in a democratic society. In particular, the local and regional media are the main forum for communicating, informing and encouraging the forming of opinions and voting decisions. However, they are dependent on an audience for their survival. In his research, he has discovered that many journalists consider EU Affairs to be the responsibility of the national media and not the local and regional media. "It is necessary to combine local and regional happenings with the larger picture i.e. the developments at the European level." Werner Jostmeier, Member of the State Parliament of North Rhine-Westfalia: Most people are not aware that 80% of policy implemented at the local level follows on from the decisions made at the EU level. Citizens therefore need more information and we all have to take the responsibility for passing on information about the EU. However, this information must be made relevant to the person receiving it. "Europe must be personal and close to people." Joe Hennon, European Commission spokesman for Margot Wallström: In recent times there has been a change of attitude towards communication in the European Commission and this has taken place under the backdrop of dramatic changes in the media scene. When citizens are asked, they do not expect to get information directly from the European Commission, but rather from Member States. However, an attempt is being made to remove barriers and borders for information. "We are encouraging the Commission to get out of Brussels and not just into capital cities." Marjory van den Broeke, Head of the European Parliament Press Unit: As an institutional media provider, the European Parliament does not have one single message to transmit. Each of the 785 Members of Parliament are spokespeople and have their own opinion. "We try to communicate the process; not just what the EP has decided, but what was the debate and who got the majority." Chris Jones, CoR Press Officer: People based in the regions can translate the work of the CoR into stories that matter in cities and regions. "Each rapporteur has the possibility to bring local and regional journalists to the Plenary Sessions." Anne Autio, Managing Editor of European Journalism Centre: Amongst journalists, knowledge of the EU is still shaky even though there is lots of information available. "Journalists need access to clear, non biased, high quality information about the EU."