2009 is now over and we will not regret it. What a strange year for many for us! The good news is 2010 has now started and it looks quite promising. 2009 was a year of transition for the EU: new MEPs were elected in June and the Lisbon treaty was finally ratified just before Christmas after years of discussions. Talking about communications, 2009 will be remembered as the year 1 in online communication, with a (partly) revamped Europa website and even more with an innovating EP campaign including social media.

In 2010, more than ever, the EU will have to defend its position on the world scene and start conversations with its citizens.

We can assume our leaders will have something to say about their experience for us citizens and for the world. If Jerzy Buzek, president of the European parliament, is already using Twitter, why not conversing with Jose Manuel Barroso, with the new minister for foreign affairs, Lady Ashton, or the new European Council president, Van Rompuy?

After a few years of trials, 2010 could be the actual (re)start of EU communications. Still, the DG Communication won’t exist as such any more, but in fact, it will be reinforced within the new Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship portfolio. With the reform of the EPSO recruitment procedures this year, EU institutions will also improve their chances to hire qualified communicating/web profiles at last. From within the bubble, more and more eurocrats are already pushing for a better internal and external communication through online technologies taking their actions to the mass audiences. Last example in date, an open letter from the European Commission’s community of internet editors and webmasters to President Barroso and incoming Commissioners called “Harnessing the power of the Internet for better communication“. Yes, EU websites should serve citizens and focus on their needs. Yes, obscure EU jargon should be banned from any EU official communication, ranging from press releases to websites. Yes, EU officials should be aware that a two-way communication with citizens is not only helpful to improve our institutions’ image but inevitable in a modern society like ours.

Being “in”, using social media doesn’t make it all however! But if EU officials are sincerely willing to start a new relationship with people, if they know how to properly use new media to work and communicate more efficiently, then 2010 could be a great year. At Digimahti, we are already looking forward to helping them being visible, influential and interactive!