President Michel launches his newsletter to citizens

On 4 June, President Charles Michel launched his newsletter, in which he informs citizens about the activities of the European Council.

"Citizens often complain that they don’t feel well enough informed about what the EU does. So I’ve decided to speak to you directly."

Charles Michel, President of the European Council

The newsletter will be issued on a regular basis in English and French. It will be available to all users subscribed to European Council alerts.

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Every issue will consist of a summary of President Michel's latest activities.

 

A word by the President, 4 June 2020

Dear fellow Europeans,

Six months ago, I took office as President of the European Council, drawing strength from the trust of the 27 heads of state or government of which that assembly is composed. Today you are receiving this new newsletter for the first time. So why have I decided to regularly address you – citizens interested in what the EU is doing?

There is a surprising paradox about perceptions of the European Union. On the one hand, our fellow citizens are strongly in favour of the opportunities it offers them, such as free movement across our continent, for holidays or work, or even to settle in another EU country. There is the convenience provided to citizens and businesses alike by our single currency, already shared by three quarters of the population. Then there are the Erasmus and Leonardo programmes, which make it possible for students and apprentices to broaden their horizons by complementing their studies or training all over Europe.

On the other hand, the way the European Union works, with its complex decision-making processes, can sometimes be hard to understand. Countless measures that enhance the welfare and rights of citizens are decided at European level without ever attracting their attention.  Yet, it is often the disagreements — inevitable sometimes between 27 partners seeking compromise — that make the headlines and trend on social media.

This sometimes creates an impression that the European Union and its decision-makers —‘Brussels’, as they say — are remote from its citizens. Nothing could be further from the truth.  European laws are adopted by the 27 governments instated through national elections and by the European Parliament, directly elected by 450 million citizens.

Yet the fact remains: citizens often complain that they don’t feel well enough informed about what the EU does. So, I’ve decided to speak to you directly, and inform you regularly about my actions as President of the European Council.

My compatriot Jean Rey, the second President of the European Commission, said in 1967 that ‘at this stage in Europe’s development, we cannot simply be the clergy; we have to continue to be prophets.’ To be honest, I’m not really the prophetic type. I’m a realist.

But I’m a realist who is passionate about Europe.  I know how much the European project has contributed to our peace and prosperity. And I’m convinced that in today’s complex world, joining forces more closely is the answer to overcoming difficulties and seizing opportunities. To do that, we must set our course and steer towards it with realism, never abandoning our ambitions or our dreams.

In this newsletter I will share with you that direction, those ambitions and our dreams for Europe and its citizens.

Happy reading!

Charles Michel