ABSTRACT
This chapter attempts to evaluate the European Parliament’s ability to make its activities accessible to the press and public. The European Commission first established an office in London in the late 1960s. This was effectively a kind of ‘embassy’ to the British government prior to the latter’s membership of the then EC. An important task of the press office is that of monitoring and countering factual or other inaccuracies in the representation of the European Union in the British media. As far as the effectiveness of the press office is concerned it is clear that its role is more one of an information source and reactive monitor, than of a pro-active and persistent initiator of potential ‘good news’ for the British people. The British government used the Internet during its presidency in 1998 to draw attention to its activities, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office also maintains a permanent web-site.
