For a long time during 2006 and 2007, EUX.TV has been trying to get a normal studio interview with Margot Wallstrom, the European Commission Vice President responsible for ‘Communicating Europe’, from the tv studio in the basement of the European Commission’s Berlaymont building.
We were told repeatedly an interview would be possible, but never were able to get a date.
Then, in October 2007, this interview with Margot appears on the Commission’s own YouTube channel. Jacki Davis is a tv pro, appears regularly on the BBC, but also happens to be a good friend of the Commissioner. She is head of communications at the European Policy Centre and editor of E! Sharp magazine. No doubt she knows about Europe, but she’s not in a position to throw tough questions at a European Commission Vice President.
The interview that is still up on EUtube has been heavily edited. Check for yourself. You’ll see a lot of giggles between two girls in several languages. (Girls, wake up, Europe’s troubles are nothing to giggle about!)
We at EUX.TV believe Europe needs to be challenged in order to be understood. National media do it with national politicians. European media (if they exist – but that is a different issue) should do it with European politicians.
It’s no surprise that so many people outside the Brussels bubble don’t understand what’s going on at an EU-level. And behaviour like in this interview suggests that the current people in power have no real desire to create a better understanding for the work they do.
Unless Commissioners and other EU leaders are able to face tough and uncensored questions that allow them to really explain themselves, they will not be understood. Never.
Or might it be that the ‘people in power’ like it this way? After all, when the masses do not really understand, it enables those in power to continue operating the EU in the undemocratic, uncheckable way. Yes of course, the Lisbon Treaty would make Europe more democratic. But seriously, when you take a good look, the EU will still not be a real democracy once that treaty gets into place. Lisbon simply is a marginal improvement. It’s not good enough to turn the EU into a real democracy. Now how about that, you giggly girls.
So, Margot, be serious about Europe, and give EUX.TV 30 minutes of your time in the Berlaymont’s basement studio. We’ll meet you anytime…
