EU Spends £2bn Annually On Self-Serving Propaganda

Bruno Waterfield
Daily Telegraph
December 27, 2008

New research by Open Europe, a think-tank that supports EU reform, has found that so-called European “information” campaigns are one-sided and boast a budget that is bigger than Coca-Cola’s total worldwide advertising account.

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One publication, entitled How the European Union works, described the EU as “a remarkable success story”.

Another English-language “information” pamphlet claimed the EU “is delivering a better life for everyone” and described the single market as “a winning formula.”

The researchers also found a European Commission document that admitted: “Neutral factual information is needed of course, but it is not enough on its own. Genuine communication by the EU cannot be reduced to the mere provision of information.”

Lorraine Mullally, director of Open Europe, said: “Taxpayers should not be footing the bill for vain PR exercises to make us love the EU. The EU needs urgent and radical reform, not expensive campaigns to improve its image.”

The research also found that projects, such as the EU’s School Milk Scheme, come with propaganda strings attached.

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This article was posted: Saturday, December 27, 2008 at 4:25 pm

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