On Sunday evening, 12 December, the first European television programme "How European are you?" will be broadcasted in the Netherlands. This programme will also be shown in Belgium, Slovakia, Spain and Turkey. Countries such as Slovenia, Poland, Portugal and Denmark have also shown interest in the programme. With this debate programme initiative, the Dutch Presidency wishes to reach a large audience and get people involved in Europe. "It is very important that everyone forms an opinion about Europe. You see how opinions are formed through debates," says Atzo Nicola�, Dutch Minister for European Affairs. During this programme, well-known and less well-known Europeans will debate subjects which touch everyone in European Union countries and which are current issues. The audience at home will also have the opportunity to let its voice be heard. The debate will be conducted on the basis of provocative views on security, Turkey and European Union foreign policy. These subjects are also on the agenda of the meeting of European heads of state and government on 16 and 17 December. Presenter Alex Thomson (Channel 4 News, war correspondent, CNN guest presenter) will moderate the debate. The guests will be Franck Biancheri (France, founder of the European student organisation AEGEE and the Newropeans Network), Klaus Bondam (Denmark, actor in 'Festen', Lord Mayor candidate for Copenhagen), Inigo Mendez de Vigo (Spain, European Parliamentarian (EPP), Erik de Vlieger (Netherlands, businessman), Kathalijne Buitenweg (Netherlands, European Parliamentarian from the Green Left) and Lord Pearson of Rannoch (United Kingdom, member of the House of Lords, author of "Better Off Out - What's the point of the European Union"). The Dutch broadcast is scheduled for 8 pm on Sunday evening 12 December on the Dutch commercial station RTL 4. Minister Nicola� announced this initiative during a meeting of Ministers for European Affairs in Amsterdam on 5 October. Under the theme of 'Communicating Europe', talks were held on how citizens' limited interest and involvement in Europe could be increased. In Amsterdam the conclusion was also drawn that television plays a significant role in reaching a large audience and increasing involvement. In November 2004, European heads of state and government also agreed that more public debates on European affairs should be broadcast on television and have prompted the Dutch and future Presidencies to pick up on this. This programme will be produced in cooperation with RTL Nederland and Endemol Nederland. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar. Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free! http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/RR.olB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> EuroAtlantic Club: http://www.europe.org.ro/euroatlantic_club/ *** Birou de traduceri autorizate. Oana Gheorghiu - tel/fax: 252.8681 / [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/romania_eu_list/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
