Wallstrom: EU needs a commissioner for citizens

In 2004 the European Union got its first ever communications commissioner. Despite its vague title, the new job created high expectations in Brussels.

Margot Wallstrom, a down-to-earth Swede with an engaging manner, was expected to cure all ills at once – including making the EU more democratic, more transparent and bringing it closer to citizens.

It was, and remains, a formidable task and one that is at times boring, frustrating and thankless. Given the nature of the job it is also difficult to measure success.

Under her watch, the EU has experienced three referendums rejecting attempts at further integration, surveys continue to show that citizens remain confused by the nature of the Union while the June European elections produced the lowest turnout ever. In addition, the job is hampered by continual debate about where the line is between information and propaganda, a row that flared up once again over the summer.

In Brussels itself, Mrs Wallstrom has had virtually no profile with the commission president having become the predominant face of the institution. The exceptions have been for the occasional snigger about the effectiveness of her Plan D for democracy, which consists of debating the EU with citizens, a spate of coverage some months back for slightly risque EU spots on YouTube or the odd controversial comment she makes on her blog.

Now packing to return to Sweden after ten years in the EU capital, Mrs Wallstrom told EUobserver about the difficulty of the job particularly after coming from the high-profile and Brussels-busy job as EU environment commissioner.

“As environment commissioner, every week I had two or three files on the commission agenda. I had a given constituency. To come and do communication meant I had absolutely nothing. I did not have a legal base … I did not have a machinery that was up and running. I did not have the full commitment from everybody else.”