I for­bindelse med de begivenheder, der resulterede i, at Kommissionen under forsæde af Jacques Santer demissionerede (— > nr. 1032), har det vist sig, at medlemssta­ternes presse, og mere generelt den offentlige opinion i medlemsstaterne, har betragtet Kommissionen som en institution, der i lighed med de nationale rege­ringer kan drages til ansvar (»accountability«), og at de nationale aviser — især dem, der driver undersøgende journalistik — i denne forbindelse har været meget mere interesserede i europæiske anliggender end tidligere. Tabloidpressen er således ved flere lejligheder kommet før de akkrediterede journalister med ny­hedsformidlingen. Der har endvidere været en markant stigning i den audiovisuelle pressedækning af EU-stoffet. 110c?.
The events leading to the resignation of the Santer Commission (— > point 1032) revealed that the Commission was regarded by the press in the Member States, and by national public opinion in general, as an institution which should be held to account for its actions like any national government. National newspapers, and investigative reporters in particular, accordingly took a much greater interest in European affairs than ever before. On several occasions it was the tabloids rather than the accredited journalists that took the lead. There was also a marked increase in the coverage of Community affairs on radio and television. 1108.