Brussels, 22nd October, 2001
Interactive Policy Making: Commission launches
"Your voice in
Europe".
The European Commission has launched a new
website, "Your voice in Europe"
(http://europa.eu.int/yourvoice) which shows
citizens, consumers and businesses how they
can be actively involved in the Commission's
policy making process. They can provide
views on new initiatives and feedback on how
existing rules are applied, discuss the future
of Europe or lodge complaints. "Your voice in
Europe" gives access to a wide variety of
interactive tools such as on-line consultations,
feedback mechanisms, webfora, chatrooms
and complaint procedures. This direct
participation by stakeholders will contribute to the
effective implementation of new policies, in
line with the Commission efforts to reform
European governance. "Your voice in Europe" is
part of the Interactive Policy Making
initiative (IP/01/519)
"Gathering the views of citizens and businesses
is essential for building relevant and effective
policies", said Commissioner Bolkestein and
added: "It's time we took full advantage of the
Internet to hold transparent, efficient and
user-friendly consultations. We'll make the results of
our on-line consultations available to the
public and will take them into account in our future
policy making".
At a conference in Brussels attended by over 100
European Representative organisations the
Commission announced the first on-line
consultation on "Your voice in Europe" which is directly
linked to the Commission's efforts to reform
European governance (Governance White Paper,
IP/01/1096). This first consultation will help
the Commission better to understand how citizens
perceive the access to information relevant to
them and know how to make their voice heard.
Further consultations will follow over the
coming months.
"Your voice in Europe" also gives access to
"Futurum", an on-line debate on the future of
Europe. The ideas collected will contribute to
proposals to update the EU Treaties at the
Inter-Governmental Conference planned for 2004.
The site also shows citizens what to do if they
want to complain about the Commission's
administrative behaviour or to lodge a complaint
with the Commission against a Member State
about any measure or practice which they think
breaks Community law.
For those who need support to make their voice
heard, the web-portal gives access to persons
and organizations best placed to assist:
Citizens can directly contact a Member of the European
Parliament or get help from one of over 1000
Interest groups (currently available only in
English). Businesses can use the Business
Feedback Mechanism (through one of over 200 Euro
Info Centres) in order to make the Commission
aware of problems they encounter in the Internal
Market.
"Your voice in Europe" is part of the
Commission's Interactive Policy Making initiative
[IP/01/519] which aims to improve governance by
using the Internet for collecting and
analysing reactions from stakeholders for use in
the European Union's policy-making process.
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