The invented tales about European Union policy have the ability to amuse and terrify the public. But Catherine Bearder, a Liberal Democrat MEP for South East England, explains why she has launched her Euromyth Buster campaign to make sure fact is not substituted for fantasy. Let’s face it, is it any surprise people in the UK get exasperated by the European Union?
They are swamped with erroneous tales of alleged devious directives and barmy plans from ‘meddling Brussels bureaucrats’.
I have my favourites. There was the ‘fear’ sparked amongst the European male population after the story of the German man who claimed to have been made impotent by Euro coins. And even the rational were left reeling at news the EU was proposing to liquefy corpses and flush them down the drain.
You can take two stances: ignore, and let the drivel seep into the public subconscious, in the way grossly exaggerated tales of bendy bananas managed. Or, go armed with the truth, tackle myth-making when it crops up in the media and query suspected fabrication.
When a headline screams ‘EU disgrace’ or ‘look at what them lot are doing now’ (insert exclamation mark for extra anger), stick your hand up and question detail.
It is a relentless job, but one which those of us who believe in an effective place in the union must do. Rebutting falsehoods uttered about the European Union has become a full time job. The European Commission has introduced a policy of tackling negative coverage it regards as being distorted… or, just plain wrong. It gets hit hard, often because many UK tabloids seem to forget their journalistic duty to contact the commission for a comment on many of their stories. I struggle to imagine other scenarios in which that would be the case. If a local newspaper is running a story criticising a council plan, they go to the Town Hall for comment.
If a police initiative is being scrutinized, a leading officer is asked for a quote. If a school is cutting classes, the headteacher or education authority is called upon to speak up. I took part in a radio debate last month, during which one caller said she wanted Britain out of the EU because it preached holocaust denial to school pupils.
The most surprising part was the polite acceptance of the viewpoint from the presenter. No attempt was made to question what was clearly rubbish. Those who pour scorn on our place in Europe are not keen for a frank and straightforward debate on the facts.
Read more: The British media is in love with the Euromyth | New Europe
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