European Commission on 'Information': Buy, Brainwash or Smear

Things got a little bit hot here in Brussels last night, when the independent think-tank Open Europe held a meeting for a discussion on its research into the amount of money -- £2.2bn in 2008 alone -- that the European Commission spends on pro-EU propaganda.

As usual, Open Europe was keen for someone from the Commission to attend. But definitely not as usual, someone from the Commission actually did turn up: Joe Hennon, spokesman for Margot Wallstrom, the Swede who is commissioner in charge of spending all this propaganda money. Though of course Mrs Wallstrom doesn't call it propaganda. She calls it 'communications strategy.'

Whatever she calls it, you are paying for it.

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