Bloggers Across Europe Gathered To Meet Cyprus Presidency
Bloggers from across Europe gathered Wednesday in Brussels to meet the Cyprus Presidency and discuss its thematic priorities. The event “Cyprus Presidency meets the Bloggers”, that took place in the heart of Europe, was characterized by enthusiasm, open debate and lively discussions, according to the Cyprus Presidency.
Live blogging, tweets, live streaming and Google hangouts made the online interaction of 37 bloggers on site together with bloggers from across Europe participating through the web possible, making it a unique event of its kind.
The event was organised by the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union to promote the interaction between the Cypriot and the European blogospheres and to bring European bloggers physically and virtually together.
Reaching more than 400,000 followers
The hashtag, a phrase used in Twitter to gather tweets on a particular topic, of the event #cy2012eublogs was among the top hashtags in Brussels today. A total of 695 tweets generated 1,509,417 impressions, the number of times a tweet is exposed in a particular tweet stream, reaching an audience of 403,089 followers within the past 24 hours.
The Permanent Representative of Cyprus Kornelios Korneliou opened the event by stating the importance of the Cyprus Presidency approaching bloggers. He briefly presented the Cyprus Presidency priorities and expressed the wish that this meeting would be followed by many more. He also welcomed Cypriot bloggers participating in the meeting and expressed the necessity of enhancing interaction between Cypriot and European bloggers.
Bloggers exchanged views face to face
Substantial discussions with bloggers focused on the four thematic priorities of the Cyprus Presidency:
- Europe, more efficient and sustainable,
- Europe, with a better performing and growth economy
- Europe, more relevant to its citizens, with solidarity and social cohesion,
- Europe in the world, closer to its neighbours.
The impact of EU policies on citizens’ everyday life, how social media can change the way diplomacy is done or how the European blogosphere could better interact with the rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU were only a few of the subjects brought up by bloggers and discussed -this time- face to face.
Throughout the event participants and visitors through the web or “in real life” could network, follow panel discussions and listen to interviews with Cypriot bloggers. On the live blog for the event on the website of the Council of the European Union a total of 310 comments were posted during the event.
In his closing speech, Deputy Permanent Representative of Cyprus, George Zodiates said that the Cyprus Presidency with the guiding target to work towards a better Europe considers bloggers valuable to create a better understanding among citizens of the processes within the European Union.
“The Cyprus Presidency remains committed to transparency and openness and is willing to pursue the cooperation that started today”, he said.