Three major events in 2004 have concentrated media and public attention on the
future of Europe:

the expansion of the European Union to include 10 new member states

the subsequent European Parliament elections in June

and the signing by EU leaders of the Constitutional Treaty.

However, public opinion remains badly informed on European issues. In a recent poll it was found that less than a third of UK respondents were aware of the fact that over 80% of Britain's environmental legislation comes from the EU. Overall we know less about the EU than any of our European colleagues bar Holland.
(Eurobarometer 61)

Other polls have suggested that a majority of British citizens believe that the constitution will give Europe immediate power to control tax rates in Britain, that a European passport will replace a British one, that Britain will need EU approval before fighting a war and that a European representative will replace Britain on the United Nations Security Council. (YouGov / Sun, 2004)

Healthy democracy calls for active and engaged citizens, but good government in a democracy requires citizens to be well informed and to make considered decisions. Only with accurate facts can people assess the advantages and disadvantages of European Union, and take informed decisions on the issues it raises

A Vision of Europe - Discussions on the Future of Europe will take the form of a series of high-level discussions on broad European themes, with experts and authorities participating in a public-access round-table seminar. Guest speakers have been invited from businesses, media organisations, public service organisations, NGOs, research institutes and think tanks, so that the interests and views of as wide a cross-section of society as possible are represented. Seminars will be open to members of the public, and widely publicised in the locality
of the events.

Based on the facts, can we identify a collective vision for the
future of Europe?

Specifically, the Institute is concerned with the relationship between the British public and their political institutions, and how we approach the ethical and spiritual values of European Union. A Vision of Europe will build on the Get the Vote Out! project, which sought to develop means of encouraging the electorate to vote. After some publicity, and alongside other factors, this did contribute to a significantly improved turnout. The challenge now is to build on recent publicity to ensure that column inches and airtime are not filled with dogma and propaganda, but considered engagement with contemporary European themes.