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COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
C 0 M < 8 3 >  5 7 final 
Brussels, 10 February 1 983
C O M M I S S I O N  C O M M U N I C A T I O N  T O  T H E  C O U N C I L
Participation by the C om m ission of the European Com m unities in the 
International Exhibition to be held in N e w  Orleans, Louisiana, United
States, in 1984
C O M (83) 5 7  final

COMMISSION COMMUNICATION TO THE COUNCIL
Participation by the Commission of the European Communities in the Inter­
national Exhibition to be held in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States,  
in 1984
I. N E W  O R L E A N S  I N T E R N A T I O N A L  E X H IB IT IO N
On 24 March 1982, the United States Secretary of State invited the Commission  
of the European Communities to participate in an international exhibition  
to held in New Orleans, Louisiana, from 12 May to 11 November 1984. This  
followed the signing of the relevant proclamation by the President of the  
United States on 4th March 1982.
A. Nature and theme of the exhibition
The New Orleans exhibition has been approved by the Paris-based Inter­
national Exhibition Bureau (BIE) as a "specialized international exhi­
bition" and will be held from 12 May to 11 November 1984. In accordance  
with the criteria laid down by the BIE for this type of event, the organizers  
will erect the exhibition buildings and hire them to the participants.
The theme of the exhibition will be "The world of rivers - fresh water as  
a source of life".
The choice of theme is closely allied to New Orlean's own situation as a  
city built on one of the world's great rivers - the Mississippi- and as  
one of the most important ports in the United States, on a par with New York.
It is the organizers' wish, in order ot promote greater diversity of  
presentation and hence increase the exhibition's interest, that the theme  
might be treated both in a general sense, i.e. from the geographical and  
historical standpoints, and also from more technical aspects.
B. Current state of preparations and likely participants
The exhibition is to occupy a site of over 33 hectares very near the  
business centre, on the bank of the Mississippi in an area of former commercial  
and industrial buildings associated with the port which are to be converted  
or renovated for the occasion.
The fact that the exhibition site will be in the city itself should help  
considerably to encourage visitors, many of whom will be tourists visiting  
New Orleans, a city which is undoubtedly one of the greatest tourist  
magnets in the United States.
It is estimated that visitors to the exhibition will number at least  
12 million.

-  2 -
A s  regards participation, the response to initial invitations, both inter­
nationally and nationally, w as m uted by the opening of the Knoxville 
Exhibition which, until it closed in October 1982, drew aw ay the attention 
of possible participants. However, even though participation contracts 
have not yet been signed, it can be expected that the industrialized world 
will be am ply represented ; in addition to the United States, Japan and 
C anada - which are organizing international exhibitions themselves in 1 9 8 5  
and 1986 - should participate; Australia too has adopted a favourable position 
of principle. Furthermore, the Vatican, because of the sizê of the Catholic 
population in the area concerned, has all but decided to participate. T h e 
organizers are also hoping, given the geographical situation of N e w  Orleans, 
to attract a  num ber of Caribbean and Latin American countries.
A t the national level the exhibition will undoubtedly receive solid support 
(som e States, notably Louisiana, will have their o w n  pavilion, as will m a n y  
large American firms).
B Y  T H E  C O M M I S S I O N  O F  T H E  E U R O P E A N  C O M M U N I T I E S  
IN  T H E  N E W  O R L E A N S  I N T E R N A T I O N A L  EXHTRTTTONn w n ^ m K i n a » » n n « j i » Q ^ · i r ■ ■ ir · » .  r ^ - in . , „ | b·.     i- · » | n W  p m i j j ·  u _ n c r n ) ,i*
There are uncertainties regarding international participation and the drawbacks 
of the site earmarked for such participation (in a  long, cavernous building, 
practically all in one block, which limits the opportunities for distinguishing 
individual presentations and giving them a  clearly-marked external identity}.
It is a  Ido a fact that the theme of the N e w  Orleans Exhibition - "The world of 
rivers... fresh water, source of life" - has a less direct link to the priority 
activities of the C om m unity than the two next specialized international 
exhibitions which are in preparation, namely
- 1985 Tsukuba, Japan, "Dwellings and surroundings - science and
technology for m a n  at hom e"
- 1986 Vancouver, Canada, "Transport and communications".
These are obviously of greater importance for the Commission, as it w as 
underlined during the meeting of July 7, 1982 of the Fairs and Exhibitions 
G roup w h e n  the Com m ission gave the following priorities :
1) Tsukuba 1985
2) Vancouver 1986
3) N e w  Orleans 1984 (ref. Council D oc. 9042/82 E xpo 11)
However, the Com m ission m ust bear in m ind the following positive arguments :
- T he M e m b e r States - except for Italy, which is still considering the 
matter - have decided not to participate individually in the N e w  Orleans 
International Exhibition, but the Council's W orking Party on fairs and 
exhibitions cons idered that the C o m m i ssion should participate in this 
event as the representative of the whole Com m unity. O n  7  D ecem ber 1982 
the W orking Party on fairs and  exhibitions asked the Com m ission to 
present an appropriate proposal to the Council.

- 3  -
- In the event that the above formula could not be implemented,
Europe would run the risk of being totally absent from  this 
exhibition, whereas, in the framework of our relations with 
the United States, the presence of the European C om m unity could 
be desirable.
- Further the geographical venue of the exhibition offers the 
possibility of reaching a  public at least in part different from
that of Knoxville w hre a  certain num ber of M e m b e r States and the C o m m is­
sion participated at the International Exhibition in 1982.
1 2  million visitors are expected at N e w  Orleans including those 
from  Latin America and the Carribbean.
- Finally, the solution proposed for N e w  Orleans falls within the 
framework of current Com m ission policy, namely to reinforce at 
international exhibitions the image and the character of unity of 
the European C om m unity.
In view of these positive arguments which have been cited above, 
the C om m ission is ready to respond to the dem and of the M e m b e r 
States to represent them  globaly in N e w  Orleans, if :
1) the Council approves the principle of participation,
2) the budgetary authority decides on a  transfer from  chapter 1 0 1  
for the credits necessary in 1983 towards the post 2721 w hich 
has a  p.m.,
3) 1984 credits are to be allotted to the budgetary line for the 
1984 budget,
4) the positive decision of the Council does not compromise any 
eventuel participation of the C om m ission at the tw o future inter­
national exhibitions of Tsukuba 1985 and Vancouver 1986.
III. A R R A N G E M E N T S  F O R  C O M M I S S I O N  P A R T IC IP A T IO N
In view of the foregoing, it is proposed that the Com m ission participate 
in the N e w  Orleans International Exhibition as the representative of 
the European C om m unity as a  whole.
A . A rea
A s  the Com m ission will, under the proposal, be representing by itself 
the whole of the Comm unity, it will not have the material scope 
provided by a  grouped participation of the M e m b e r States, as w a s the 
case at the Knoxville International Exhibition, w here the C om m ission 
found 600 m 2  adequate because its stand formed only part of a  
"European C om m unity Pavilion" covering a  total area of around 4000 m 2 .

- 4 -
Budget possibilities will obviously preclude anything even remotely resembling  
participation on this scale.
However, an area of around 1000 m2 would seem to be the minimum for presenting  
the European Community at New Orleans in a way that, though modest, would  
have sufficient dignity. Any appreciable reduction of this figure would be  i likely to be counterproductive.
B. Nature of the participation
In view of the very short time that will remain for preparing the operation  
oncea final decision has been taken on the budget, the Commission proposes,  
instead of a conventional exhibition, a high quality audio-visual spectacle  
(as the theme will presumably lend itself to striking pictorial treatment),  
with a number of exhibition stands presenting the European Community in an  
entrance hall to the projection room proper.
There might in addition be a commercial concession (restaurant or souvenirs  
of the countries of the European Community) which would increase the visual  
scale of the Community presence: a number of proposals on these lines have  
already been put to the Commission departments.
B. Budget
It is obviously difficult to draw up a detailed budget estimate at the present  
stage. This will not be possible until the theme and a preliminary draft  
audio-visual presentation have been worked out and decisions have been taken,  
in broad outline at least, on the various back-up events (publicity schemes,  
European Day, etc.) and on the publications to be produced for the occasion.
However, in the tight of its previous experience and its knowledge of the cost  
of audio-visual spectacles presented in other pavilions, notably at the  
Knoxville International Exhibition, and given the information it has already  
received concerning rates for the hire of sites and related expenses and  
the organizers' price estimates for fitting out stands, the Commission
considers that the budget required must be set at 1.600.000 UCE (see  
Annex for breakdown of this estimate of costs). t
These funds should be accorded by the budget authority from item 2721  
(Participation in international and universal Exhibitions) and spread over  
the 1983 and 1984 financial years as follows:
1983 :  60 X of the total cost, i.e. 960.000 ECU
1984 :  40 % of the total cost, i.e. 640.000 ECU
This budget includes staff costs for general exhibition personnel  
(hostesses, technicians, etc.) only: the salaries and mission expenses  
of the Commissioner General and any officials seconded from other Directorates-  
General to the office of the Commissioner General will have to be borne,  
as in the case of previous Commission participation in universal and inter­
national exhibitions, by the relevent Commission budgets.
★
★ *

- 5 -
It should be reiterated that this operation must not compromise Commission  
participation in the Tsukuba (Japan) and Vancouver (Canada) International Exhibitions  
in 1985 end 1986 respectively (exhibitions having the same standing as the New  
Orleans Exhibition under the rules of the International Exhibition Bureau), as the  
two countries where they are to be held are likely to attract wider international  
participation - notably by the Member States - and have not witnessed participation  
by the European Community in an event of this kind for many years, whereas in the  
United States the Community was present at the Knoxville International Exhibition  
in 1982.
In addition, the themes of the exhibitions to be held in Japan and Canada respectively  
(Dwellings and surroundings - science and technology for man at home; Transport  
and communications) are more directly relevant to major Community activities.

NEW ORLEANS INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION, 1984
Estimate of costs
I. SITE AND FIXED CHARGES
- 11 000 square feet, of which 2 000 square feet free, i.e.
9 000 square feet at USD 35.0 = USD 315.000,-
- 11 000 square feet at USD 3.0 for iced water, as  
specified under the Exhibition rules = USD 33.000,-
Sub-total USD 348.000,- ECU 360.000,
II. PREPARATION FEES
Initial studies, convocation of experts, architectural
consultation, elaboration of alternative plans, etc. ECU 5.000,
III. FITTING OUT AND DECORATION
a) Fees for European architect and for American consulting
architect in accordance with United States special  
legal requirements ECU 30.000,-
b) Internal and external fitting out
comprising: air conditioning, floor coverings,  
projection room, entrance hall, etc. ECU 170.000,-
c) Decoration
Display units presenting the European
Community in the entrance hall (including
transport costs) ECU 50.000,-
Sub-total ECU 250.000,- ECU 250.000,-
iV. AUDIO-VISUAL DISPLAY
consisting of films and slides to be projected on 3 screens  
each measuring 7 m x 10 m, i.e. 21 m x 30 m in all; cost of  
preparing films and slides, technical equipment and
projectionist for the six months of the Exhibition ECU 650.000,-
V. RUNNING COSTS
Hostesses, electricity, water, heating, air conditioning,  
telephone, telex, postal expenses, maintenance, office equipment  
and machinery, service car, cleaning and security, insurance,
etc. ECU 100.000,-
carried forward to next page ECU 1.365-000,-

-  2 -
Carried forward ECU 1.365.000,-'
VI. PUBLICATIONS
Folder for general public, brochure for special interest  
visitors, reprinting of existing publications ECU60.000,-
VII. EUROPEAN DAY AND OTHER VARIOUS INFORMATIONAL ACTIVITIES
such as conferences, seminars, discussions, press  
conferences, etc. ECU25.000,-'
TOTAL: I + II + III + IV + V + VI + VII ECU 1.450.000,-
VIII. RESERVE FOR CONTINGENCIES
As the above is only an estimate (before the plans for the  
stand have been drawn up) and in view of the uncertainty  
regarding the likely rate of inflation in the United States  
between now and 1984 (in the case of the 1982 Knoxville  
International Exhibition, the dollar appreciated by 40 % 
between the adoption of the budget and the date of the  
exhibition), it would seem essential to provide a reserve  
of 10 % for contingencies and exchange rate variation
equivalent to ECU 145.000,-
GRAND TOTAL: ECU 1.595.000,-
IN ROUNDED FIGURES ECU 1.600.000,-