Move to 'sell' EU to the French

The report aims to turn the French into "better" Europeans

A 40-point plan to explain Europe to the French has been submitted to the government - a month after voters rejected the EU treaty.

The proposals include a European stamp, a medal of honour, exams on Europe for schoolchildren and an EU sports event.

The report blames the defeat of the "Yes" vote in the referendum on the failure of information campaigns.

As a result, it says Europe feels like a "constraint" to the French and at worse a "threat" to their way of life.

'Information gap'

The parliamentary report, which is the result of six months of work, was ordered by former Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, who resigned in the wake of the referendum.

For MPs, Europe is not a vote winner, for the media, Europe does not sell and for teachers, the school is not a place for European propaganda Michel Herbillon, report author

Most of the report was written before the 29 May vote. But its author, Michel Herbillon, says the referendum highlighted lack of information on the part of voters.

The document has been handed to incoming Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, who this week spoke of the need to explain Europe to the French.

Mr Herbillon, an MP of the centre-right UMP party, says politicians, the media and teachers must all share part of the blame for the defeat of the "Yes" camp.

"For MPs, Europe is not a vote winner, for the media, Europe does not sell and for teachers, the school is not a place for European propaganda," said Mr Herbillon.

He calls for a long-term information policy to "Europeanise" French public life, and for a more prominent role to the Minister of European Affairs.

The report also wants to make it a requirement for the public service media to provide regular and comprehensive coverage of European affairs.