Viewpoints


THE MEDIA AND DEVELOPMENT FORUM IN OUAGADOUGOU,
BURKINA FASO, 11-13 SEPTEMBER 2008 ORGANISED BY THE
EUROPEAN COMMISSION AND THE COMMISSION OF THE
AFRICAN UNION




 DEMOCRACY



 needs opposing





 .. FORCES


Louis Michel, European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid

I am delighted to be able to express my views today on a subject that lies at the
heart of any democracy the role of the media. The freedom, independence, but not
necessarily neutrality, and the objectivity of the media as an information carrier are
vital for education, culture and development, as well as being indicators of a mature
democracy.


I have always believed that democ-
 racy needs opposing forces based on
 the expression of different opinions.
 Rhetorical confrontation often speeds up
progress in political, human and social terms.
It also has another virtue, which is to offer a
conciliatory outlet that often ensures the pacifi-
cation and stability of a particular community.
The democratic organisation of a society must
allow the government to explain andjustify its
actions, but should also guarantee the oppo-
sition parties the opportunity to challenge,
denounce and oppose measures and to propose
alternatives. A democracy can only survive if
it provides an alternative possibility.
It is the legislative, executive and judicial
powers that guarantee what we call the civil
state. But even the impartial exercise of these
powers is not sufficient, in my view, to ensure
a healthy modern democracy because it lacks

SPECIAL ISSUE 2 N.E. DECEMBER 2008


the challenging, even impertinent, vigilance of
civil society, the voice and plurality of which
are conveyed by the press. Only a free and
independent press can ensure what I call a fair
state. An effective press is therefore a neces-
sary element of democracy. A responsible and
independent media is a prerequisite for a fair
state. It is the guarantor of:
- free elections
- a responsible political, economic and admin-
istrative system
- a healthy democracy
- a progressive society
In short, it enables the progress of development.
The media is all of the following in one a
pillar of democracy, part of civil society, a
conveyor of information.
We are not coming here with ready-made
solutions. We are not coming with recommen-
dations because we have all the answers. The


issues which we will attempt to resolve apply
to Europe in the same way as to Africa. We
have to meet the same challenges financing,
independence, ethics, respect for the truth,
protection in the courts, protection of sources,
press specialised in political analysis and other
forms, plurality. We also have to look at the
vital role of local media, and the enormous
development potential it can generate in terms
of support for development projects, social
cohesion, and the mobilisation and involve-
ment of citizens. How can the media contrib-
ute to the governance and development of a
fair state? How can we establish a legal frame-
work to improve the situation of the media and
its freedom on the ground?
I cannot emphasise enough the importance of
this local dimension in development, which is
why the European Development Days 2008
have also focused on this theme. M