Recommendations:

During the past two days we have managed to gather a deep insight into the work of local and regional journalists

  explained President of the EPP Group in the Committee of the Regions, Michael Schneider, in the conclusions of the 5th anniversary edition of the EPP/CoR Summer University for local and regional media.  

Through our list of 7 concrete proposals, which we formally presented to Viviane Reding, Vice-President of the European Commission yesterday, I am convinced that we can step up the support for local and regional media and facilitate their ability to communicate on European Affairs.

On the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the EPP Group in the Committee of the Regions' Summer University for local and regional media, the participants called upon the European Commission, European Parliament and European Council to assist them in their attempt to cover European Affairs at the local and regional level by considering the possibilities mentioned below:

• An EU funded web tool/platform to facilitate the exchange of information between local and regional media based in each of the 27 Member States and the European Union officials responsible for communication policies.
• A dedicated TV/radio satellite feed (for example on the already established on the Europe by Satellite service) for exchanging local and regional footage from European countries to enable broadcasters to paint a broader picture of events and reactions across the EU and follow up on continuing stories.
• Regular study visits and placements to Brussels for local and regional journalists across the EU, even those not specialising in European affairs - since all news areas have a European dimension - to develop their EU knowledge.
• Erasmus for journalism students/funding for a journalists exchange programme, to facilitate the exchange of best practice and encourage cross-border journalism in the spirit of the European Union.
• Summer schools for journalists on topics concerning border/macro regions to encourage the media to report back on existing cross-border initiatives, which have a clear benefit for European citizens.
• An annual EU Prize for local and regional journalists recognising EU affairs reporting at the local and regional level.
• The establishment of a European Investigative Journalism fund to pay for reporters to temporarily replace journalists freed to research and report on a longer-term investigative journalism project (approximately two months). This would bring benefits both for investigative journalism and for those acting as the temporary replacements, who would enhance their work experience and practical knowledge.