MEDIATIZED EU Policy Recommendations for EU Policymakers

Based on the research findings involving media analysis, interviews with political and media elites, and public opinion surveys in the seven target countries, the research team in each target country designed a policy recommendation report for EU policymakers. There are many common issues among the target countries. Policy recommendations focus on similar matters, with some differences as to how similar suggestions are formulated but also some differences between countries. Most of them are predominantly pro-EU with slight to moderate different attitudes to whether the membership is mainly a pragmatic benefit or a more identitarian issue. Countries tend to move to a more pragmatic and transactional approach to benefits of EU Membership. Most countries cluster around a common core, the outliers are Hungary and Georgia. Despite being an EU Member State, Hungarian media and elites reflect the Euroscepticism of its government. In Georgia, recent political developments have meant a significant move away from pro-EU attitudes, despite the population still being EU friendly with sharp political polarisation. However, even with a strong self-identification as ’European’ among all major interest groups, all research teams agree that Eurosceptic ideas can easily get support in segments of the society. Scepticism tends to arise on sovereignty and identity issues or EU involvement in what is seen as national issues, aggravating the existing polarization within societies. Identarian discourses are primarily used by Eurosceptic outlets and fuelled by disinformation. As media becomes more and more digital, without the digital skills of the population increasing with the same speed, the risk of disinformation increases. Furthermore, the general polarisation of society means that there is less trust in institutions or in the media, which also provides opportunities to exploit the fear and ignorance of people to make them overly sceptical of EU initiatives. Consequently, all policy recommendations reports aim to counter Euroscepticism and polarisation by proposing similar initiatives across three distinct but interconnected areas. First, the need to enhance media literacy on European affairs, not only among citizens but also by supporting independent media outlets to pay more and better attention on EU issues. Second, combating disinformation through a more forward- thinking strategy and measures that encompasses technology, legal and diplomatic aspects, while also creating frameworks for collaboration between civil society, media, and the state. And third, working with civil society in order to enhance its engagement with EU institutions widening its participation in decision-making processes and educational programs. The aim of the policy recommendations report is to enable EU policymakers to develop effective strategies to counter mediatized representations that could hamper the European integration project due to negativity bias or because they contain disinformation or misinformation. Additionally, the policy recommendations can assist EU policymakers in planning awareness-raising campaigns for citizens.