An opportunity to network and a good chance to exchange views with bloggers or others interested in the EU is what I feel was the result of the Bloggers event organised by the Cypriot presidency at the Council on Thursday. I’m new to the social media world, thus still experimenting, but this is what I got out of it.
From there on, if there is to be a follow up it’s not the Cypriots who can or should organise it for us, I think. Two options I’ve been pondering on in order to have some kind of continuity (and I’m sure there are many more) are:
+ This event becomes part of every 6-month presidency calendar. This shouldn’t be difficult to achieve, with the Council providing the facilities and supporting the presidency.
+ The bloggers themselves take the initiative to create a group on which the discussion can continue, with live links from time to time to inject more interest. There should be that little “something” that will generate interest, otherwise we all go about our daily lives and work and simply forget about it!
On the other hand, thinking out loud, I must add that continuity is not a must! We can also take the initiative for what it was, nothing more than an opportunity to get together and exchange views!
The disappointment for me was the low turn-out at the CCMC in Nicosia, for which I am sure there are many good excuses…including the fact that most people work at that time of the day and the scorching heat we’re going through! As for the journalists not even one turned up apart from yours truly, who is now a blogger and does not work for a media outlet. However, it is in line with their general lack of interest on EU issues, but this is an issue for another day!
Otherwise, I enjoyed the discussion in my group (Panel 4) on the EU and its Neighbours, even though I times I did feel we were doing a brainstorming on how the EEAS could improve its communications.
I had connection problems so couldn’t always follow the discussion, but here are three interesting stories/comments I picked up and want to share with you:
+ The foreign minister of a non-EU country once said: “the Mafia makes you an offer you can’t refuse…the EU makes you an offer you can’t understand”!
+ The gap between what others think of the way the Commission communicates and what the Commission itself thinks remains – the “glass half full or glass half empty” million euro questions.
+ The Council President once tweeted while at a meeting. This meant those following him on twitter picked up the story faster than those Brussels correspondents waiting outside who are not on twitter! This shook the correspondents. More and more are now on twitter and are trying to get in touch with using social media, it was said.
Of course issues such as social media impact on the political agenda, how social media is affected by the prevailing culture thus its use varies from country to country, whether or not the EU can and should speak with one voice, etc. etc. also came up in the discussion.
These are my two cents from the event, which overall I would describe as a welcome and productive initiative!
If you want to watch the discussions follow the previous post below: Euroblogger Exchange #cy2012eublogs – instants
In my opinion 6 months meeting period would be the best. We can be in contact with the presidency, and is a two way communication.
I think the Euroblogosphere, although slowly, is getting more importance day by day. And we, the bloggers, can bring what is spoken. In a sort of bridge within politicians and citizens.