Susana del Río: “Europe is a project full of passion”

The European Union is a unique, complex and full of passion project. Communicating Europe, bringing it closer to the citizens and achieving a higher participation from them in the context of all the European activity fields cannot be considered an easy enterprise.

Is it a problem of remoteness? Is the information very complex? Is there a lack of it? Is it a question of focus? We have talked to Susana del Río Villar about all these issues. She is expert in civil society participation and European communication as well as one of the most active persons in relation to these topics inside and outside Spain. She is vocationally pro-European and considers the European project a “passion” as well as admires its “pace” and its ability to be in constant “movement”. According to Dr. del Río, that Europe, which is in constant change, is bringing closer and closer to the citizens, “but they still don’t know”. Due to that, it is essential a European constant communication, “useful and simple” information about the topics which concern us and, the most important, what del Río denominates communicating in “European version”.

Active Citizenship and European communication

Question. A high percentage of European citizens still see the EU as something remote, its functioning as something complex and its work as something which affects to their lives barely. How can this situation be changed?

Answer. I think it is important that citizens receive useful and simple information about issues they are concerned with in order to achieve that they believe Europe is in his daily life and the European Union has changed from being in our reality to be everyone's reality. A Practical information about Europe for the citizens to know is the capacity of Europe in their day to day life, that Europe is useful and that they “practice” Europe from dawn to dusk.

Question. Do you think the lack of interest is mainly lack of information? If so, Who should be “blamed” for this, the European institutions, media, citizens…?

Answer. In my opinion, it is no longer a problem of amount of European information. The fact is the information does not reach the citizens from a European perspective and they continue receiving it from a national one. Perhaps, instead of thinking about who should be “blamed” for this, we should focus on the processes. For example, in the communication campaign developed by the European Parliament for the European elections of 2009, the media were very present and actively reporting. However, when news reached the countries, the main points of the campaign were “nationalized”. It is good to explain how a European decision affects every country but it does not help to see a debate in the context of the European elections in which it is difficult to find that European dimension. For some debates I undertook the task of gathering information about how many times the politicians talked about Europe and what their party would do in relation to those issues present in the campaign. I dedicate myself to European issues but it was difficult even for me to catch words and ideas of European extent and vision from the debates.

SUSANA DEL RÍO: “The problem is the information does not reach the citizens from a European perspective and they continue receiving it from a national one”.

An important element is that the information cannot be “express”. The information and communication with citizens must be carried out little by little. The Continuation of the information is a key point.

Question. The EU is committing itself to increase its presence on the Internet: the institutions web sites, social networks, blogs, but what about the European citizens who are not connected?

Answer. Connection is not only Internet connection. Blogs, for example, are developing a different area in order to spread Europe and reach a huge number of people. I follow with special interest many European blogs from long time ago and I even write in some of them and realize that they have a big capacity to reach many people. This blog is a good blog. The thing I like the most is how bloggers communicate with their own personality not only in posts but also in the name of the blog, the design of the presentation page, etc.

I think that e-democracy, e-participation and e-communication are undoubtedly a social and communicative revolution. The concept “cyber” is good and it is a very important resource for the citizens to connect to Europe. Digital world opens a lot of possibilities and formulas, it is something really amazing but Democracy, Participation and Communication will always come before. I would like to highlight something: I don´t like the concept of digital citizenship. I think that people, citizens and citizenship don’t fit together properly with the concept of digital. What I mean by this is that, it is important not to lose one’s way and, of course, take advantage of the Net, which is a great digital channel. However it is important to combine it with the traditional channels. For example, it is important that news about Europe appear more in written press in an easily identifiable part when opening the newspaper. In addition, it is also important that there are more programs with news in the “European version” in radio and that European Union and its institutions can be watched more and more in the television news bulletins. I also consider very important to broadcast the Program “Europa 2010” in prime time. Visual information is very important.

SUSANA DEL RÍO: “Education must also receive great attention. Our children must know Europe and realise that they are Europeans. European education has an integration value with a lot of potential”.

Regarding the question about the European communication I always highlight the importance of balance, communicating in a balanced way in form and content. Content is essential, what and to whom communicate, but also form: digital communication, press communication, TV, etc. However, we must not forget the importance of face to face communication. In a debate, a citizen who makes a question can see more in a MEP’s eyes and face than through a screen.

Citizen participation after the Treaty of Lisbon

Question. It is said the Treaty of Lisbon is going to be a decisive step for building the “Europe of citizens”. To what extent do you think the new Treaty meet all the expectations in relation to citizen participation?

Answer. The Treaty of Lisbon includes the essential points of the Project of the European Constitution. Because of this, it is near to citizens and current affairs. Of course, we should progress more in some time but there is something very democratic and deeply civic in the Treaty of Lisbon and that is the increase of power of the Parliament. If the European Parliament has more power, the citizens attain more power as well.

Question. You have participated actively in the configuration of the European Citizen Initiative. Do you highlight something from the Initiative?

Answer. We have to be very careful with the implementation of the Initiative, the Inter-institutional balance and the way to present it. Due to the fact that its origin and development have been the first of its kinds in many aspects, its implementation needs good consistency. We have to communicate very well as well as to what the initiative is and which its stages are.

The inclusion of the Initiative Legislative Citizenship in the 4th paragraph, article 47 of the European Constitution Project was undoubtedly an achievement, a conquest of the civil society organizations together with members of the European Convention. In my opinion, the cross communication among organizations, MEPs and academic world since 2002 is something very important of the Initiative: Mobilization and European transnational debate.

Question. Are there other opportunities to participate in addition to tools such as the popular initiative? What can the citizens do in order to help to build Europe?

Answer. There are many opportunities to participate and citizens can decide to participate actively in forums, debates, etc. as well as in the European elections or if they are going to vote but not to debate about Europe.

SUSANA DEL RÍO: “It is clear that responsible communication encourages responsible participation and participation articulates society. I think politicians should bear this in mind”.

The important point is that citizens, in order to help to build Europe, should be narrowly linked to the Europe of solidarity because solidarity mobilizes as well as it is a humanitarian concept and action. Solidarity is able to multiply the outstanding information. I think, although there is a lot of work to do, NGOs develop this task very well.

Everything is valid. I think it is important to arouse citizens’ curiosity about Europe and “turn the European mode on” because if we achieve it, citizens will search for information in European institutions webs, media and blogs. If citizens search for information, they are also participating.

European Union Citizenship

Question. Regarding all the rights that comprise the Union Citizenship, isn’t it disappointing that neither in the European Constitution nor after the Treaty of Lisbon there has been a commitment to reform a content which dates from the Treaty of Maastricht?

Answer. In my opinion, the European citizenship is full of content. It is a broad and integrationist concept. I think it is better to explain it well than reforming it. It is a concept which has a big scope and some rights. It is linked to the values of the European Union. It has solid foundations and if anybody breaks it, the European Union will have a common say in order not to allow that it is not observed. I highlight again the promoting power of active citizenship of solidarity.

European citizenship includes the multiple citizenship and many citizenships. It is unique but also numerous. One of its foundations is a rich diversity. The European citizenship has concentric circles which are also connected. This summer I gave a lecture in El Escorial and its title was: “European Citizenship: Further, nearer?” Do you know how I started my speech?: “European Citizenship: Further, nearer?, nearer but citizens still don’t know.”

Future projects

Question. You are a very active person in the field of citizen participation and European communication. In which projects are you working now? Could you reveal something?

Answer. I love what I do. Europe is my job and my vocation. I am totally convinced that the European Union is a project full of passion. I see the European project like a Project, yes, a project. And it has to be still so, in order to be renovated, begun again and updated. There is a need for a new European policy in the context of European and global governability. I have previously said that I love the pace of Europe, it is always moving. I love policy as a doctrine and great policy. European Union is an example of great policy. Europe is enlarging, it continues integrating countries and, at the same time, it goes deeply into the process of integration. That movement amazes me every day.

SUSANA DEL RÍO: “I love the pace of Europe, it is always moving”.

I am going to tell you two future projects: “Europa en Red”, with a space, “Europa Mueve la Red”, aimed at promoting the interactivity, the exchange of ideas and information, opinions, etc. where blogs are going to have a well structured place. The web will be ready in two or three weeks.

I begin a new stage in the “Instituto de Gobernanza Democrática” (http://www.globernance.com), to be exact in the Institute’s academic coordination of the program for Europe and I will continue my work as a researcher. I already have in mind the first debates, publications in different languages, links with institutions, people and entities I collaborate with since years and, as always, the union of different fields, such as institutional, academic, NGOs, media, etc. European blogs will also be present. I am very happy with this new stage in my career.

In addition, I know from long time ago the Philosopher Daniel Innerarity and the Professor Juan José Álvarez, who are the two promoters of the Institute. They have great professional and personal values. I am very proud to work with them. I will learn a lot and will have the opportunity to make my European contribution to the Institute.

Because of this, I am happy. I like learning everyday and Europe is a good place to learn every minute.



Susana del Río Villar (Madrid, 1966) has a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy and Letters, Geography and History. She is Doctor in Political Sciences and Sociology and PhD Extraordinary Award of the Social and Legal Sciences. She is adviser in European citizen participation and communicative action issues. She was Member of the Civil Society Contact Groups in the European Parliament regarding the elaboration of the European Constitution by the convention and moderator/narrator of the first Agora of the European Parliament. Member of Experts Committee of the European Commission in Science, Society and Governance and in: Citizens and governance in the knowledge based society, "Democracy in a supranational context". She is also Member of “Team Europe” from the European Commission and The Club of Rome. Collaborator of Real Instituto Elcano (RIE), the European Movement and organizations such as Fundación Luis Vives and Red Extremeña de Información Europea (REINE). She was responsible for the contents of the European Citizens Consultations in 2007 and coordinator of the observers group of the European Consultations in 2009. She has published numerous publications and lectured in many seminars and European debates. Main publications: RÍO VILLAR, SUSANA del, Coord and author: Europa: el estado de la Unión, Navarra, Aranzadi, October 2006 and Ciudadanía activa en Europa. Proceso participativo y nuevos espacios para la comunicación, Difusión Jurídica y temas de actualidad, 2008. She has been interviewed in press and radio as well as in some TV programs such as “Europa 2010” (TVE). In addition, she has been invited as a guest professor by several universities and Jean Monnet chairs and worked as an adviser of governmental bodies in European issues. From October 2010, she works as Researcher - Academic Coordinator for the program “Europe” of the “Instituto de Gobernanza Democrática”.

Traducción de la entrevista publicada por Encarna Hérnandez en su blog MÁS EUROPA.