EU inks contract on Irish PR drive

The European Commission has signed a contract with a consortium of Irish PR agencies aimed at improving the provision of public information on the European Union in this country, it was announced today.

The information drive follows the Irish electorate's No vote to the Lisbon Treaty, which according to the EC "highlighted that there was a lack of knowledge about the EU amongst the Irish public."

A second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty is scheduled for this autumn.

The €1.5m contract will run for 2009 and 2010, according to a European Commission statement.

The consortium of four companies is led by Edelman; the other partners are Zoo, EPS Consulting and PHD Media.

"The Commission believes that listening to citizens and engaging in dialogue with them are essential to foster greater mutual understanding and to design policies attuned to people's needs," said an EC statement.

"As part of this contract, there will be a variety of activities aiming to get the views of the Irish people on the European Union and its policies and also to give the Irish public more information on how the EU works."

"Democracy can only thrive if there is an informed debate," said Martin Territt, Director of the European Commission Representation in Ireland,

"The Commission has a duty to inform people about what it is doing and to encourage active public interest and participation of people in EU affairs. We are confident that the Irish public will engage actively in this two-way communication initiative and find it of benefit".