EUParliament Socialist Group Chair Bullmann to EF on Dialogue with Citizens before Decision: Careful

 

*Strasbourg/EU Parliament/Angelo Marcopolo/- Replying to an "Eurofora"s Question at an EU Parliament's Press Conference, the President of the Socialist Group of MEPs, Udo Bullmann from Germany, appeared Open, but Careful on the prospect of Web Dialogue with Citizens Before EU Decisions, and he Explained why.

-------------------------------

- "As you know, currently there is a big Problem with Citizens' relations to traditional Political Institutions, not only in Europe, but also in the USA and other Countries in the World", "Eurofora" reminded from the outset.

+ "But there is also a Potential, which has not yet been used : F.ex, EU's Lisbon Treaty provides, inter alia, also for "Regular Dialogue" between Civil Society and EU Institutions on their Activities", we observed.

=> "Do you think that it could be interesting to Start Using such Possibilities, (in order to take the Pulse of the People on "Hot" Topical Issues, but also Speak with them, Explain, Reply to their Concerns, etc), in the Easiest and most practical, Not Costly way, f.ex. via Internet, etc, with Regular Debates between MEPs and Citizens Before Decisions are taken in the Plenary, during the New Period (of 2019-2024) ?", we asked. 

---------------

 - "You are Right : Democracy is More than just Parliaments", President Bullmann Started in his Reply to the above-mentioned "Eurofora"s Question.

 - "Parliamentary Democracy has clear cut Rules on Who, at the very End, takes Responsible Decisions, that should not be put into Question", he, However, reminded.

 - "But, the Way in which we Prepare ourselves (MEPs), of course, it's Changing : According to Citizens' wishes, to the Preferences of Civil Society, of course, also, to the Stage of Technology" : F.ex. "Dialogue with Citizens before the Internet is something Different than After the Internet, etc"., he observed.

- "And this should Lead up to these New Capacities, that Representatives have (Nowadays) to enter into Dialogue with Civic Communities and the Citizens in general", Bullmann admitted.

 ---------------
- "But, Please, also, be Aware that we are Entering into New Civic Spaces, which are Not Empty : They are Structured", he Warned.

 - Already, "you know that from the Old System of Lobbies, which is a very interesting question for many of you (Journalists), for us (MEPs) as well. Lobbies exist as long as Parliaments' exist. Very rudimental forms of lobbying have always existed", he pointed out.

- "But, the Power Structure in these Lobbies' System is very UnEqual !", he criticized.

 - F.ex., "So, I always Welcome European Trade Unions, But I Know that there are Stronger Forces out there... You go to the Big Operations, to the Big Business, to the Big Money, to the City of London, when you are doing Financial Regulations, then, you know where the Influential Voices are".

 + And, at the Internet, you also have a Structured Room : It's not an Empty Room, where Everybody has Equal Opportunities, Equal Capacities, and, sometimes, you have also Splits included in the Public Opinion :"

- F.ex, "If I may Remind you, in the .... (CopyRight ?) Question, then, you saw that the whole Internet Community had a Different Opinion than many Journalists, Creators or Publishers."

=> - "Then, at the very end, this Parliament, and Parliamentarians, have to come to Responsible Decisions (on) Whom they have to Talk to, to Listen to, and How to Act Responsibly", he advised.

>>> In fact, "this role, is Not Taken Away, by whatever Digital Revolution, or any Medias' Revolution : At the very End, it's about People Taking Responsibility and Justifying ourselves in front of our Constituencies", he Concluded.

 - "And that should Not Change !", President Bullmann stressed, clearly taking an argumented Stance in favour of being Careful, in these matters, (Comp. Supra).

(../..)

------------------------------