Commission Communication οn certain arrangements for the debate on the future of the European Union
Date: 2001-04-25
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: European Union, Treaty on European Union, administrative formalities, financing, revision of the Treaty (EU)

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 25.4.2001
COM(2001)178 final

COMMISSION COMMUNICATION

On certain arrangements for the debate on the future of the European Union

.

.

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION

On certain arrangements for the debate on the future of the European Union

The Treaty of Nice was signed on 26 February 2001. The Intergovernmental conference that
drew up this Treaty was not designed to undertake far-reaching reforms of the institutional
architecture of the Union, but only to adopt the Treaty changes that were needed to ensure that
the Union is ready to welcome new Member States in the coming years. In order to go further,
the Intergovernmental Conference adopted the Declaration on the future of the Union, which
calls for "a deeper and wider debate about the future development of the European Union"
and briefly sets out the steps of a process that will
lead to the convening of a new
Intergovernmental Conference.

On 7 March 2001, the Swedish and Belgian Presidencies, the European Commission and the
European Parliament took part at the highest level in a meeting to mark the launch of the
European debate. A specific website1 was opened on this occasion with the support of the
European Commission.

This communication does not predetermine how the Commission itself might take part in
each of the other phases of the process envisaged in the Nice Declaration. It offers a few
thoughts – which are necessarily first thoughts – on the forms that this debate with all
interested parties could take and sets out the contribution that the European Commission
could make. It suggests, in particular, that the debate should draw on the experience gained in
the Dialogue on Europe operation, which the Commission took the initiative to organise back
in February 2000 in order to encourage direct contacts between European leaders and citizens.

The Commission believes that is essential, in order to ensure that the debate called for by the
Nice Declaration is a success, for the European institutions to take the time to think about the
methods and tools needed to accompany the debate.

1. Framework fixed by the Declaration

The Declaration on the future of the Union (attached as Annex 2) sets out a process
comprising three phases:

– 2001 will see the start of a phase of open reflection. The Declaration calls on the Swedish
and Belgian Presidencies, in cooperation with the Commission and involving the European
Parliament, to encourage "wide-ranging discussions with all interested parties". A report
will be drawn up for the Göteborg European Council, and the European Council is invited
to adopt a Declaration "containing appropriate initiatives for the continuation of this
process"at its meeting in Laeken/Brussels (December 2001);

– although this open debate will naturally not be concluded at the end of 2001, it will be
necessary to embark on a phase of structured reflection in the following years. Under the
arrangements to be agreed at the European Council of Laeken/Brussels, the process of
reflection on the future of the Union will focus on preparing a new revision of the Treaties:

1

http://europa.eu.int/futurum

2

– an intergovernmental conference will then be convened in order to make the necessary
changes to the Treaties. Under the terms of the Declaration of Nice, this Conference will
be convened in 2004.

The Declaration adopted in Nice also indicates which parties will be involved in the debate on
the future of the Union. This debate will not be limited to discussions between European
political
leaders (governments of the Member States, European Parliament, European
Commission), but will also involve "representatives of national Parliaments and all those
reflecting public opinion: political, economic and university circles, representatives of civil
society, etc.". The applicant countries will also be involved in this process.

As far as the subjects for reflection and debate are concerned, the Declaration specifically
mentions the delimitation of powers between the European Union and the Member States, the
status of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, the simplification of the Treaties and the role of
national Parliaments in the European architecture. It also mentions the need to improve and to
monitor the democratic legitimacy and transparency of the Union and its institutions.
Moreover, the text adopted in Nice makes it possible to address all questions concerning the
future of the Union.

This approach meets the concerns expressed by citizens during the Dialogue on Europe. It is
also corresponds to the developments that the Commission wants to encourage in order to
improve European governance.

2. Public debate and structured reflection

As the President of the Commission had the opportunity to point out to the European
Parliament on 13 February 2001,
the open debate should not be confused with the
preparations for the forthcoming intergovernmental conference. The exercising of political
responsibilities will be preceded by a phase of reflection that is open to all sections of civil
society. However, for obvious reasons of democratic legitimacy, these two processes will
have to remain separate.

It would obviously be advisable to give some structure to the preparation of the next
intergovernmental conference, although it
is not necessary to define in detail here the
operating arrangements of the body to be set up. The Commission has already had an
opportunity to indicate its interest in a formula based on the agreement which led to the
drafting of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, and which brought together the institutional
partners that are the national governments and parliaments, the European Parliament, the
Council and the Commission.

In any event, it will be necessary to ensure that this structure pays heed to the debate and is in
a position, not only to respond to the opinions expressed, but also to pass on any questions or
thoughts that arise during its work to all the interested parties. This interactive dimension can
only be achieved if the structure that is to be set up operates in a completely transparent way.
It is by taking account of the deep and wide debate called for by the Nice Declaration that this
structure will draw up a coherent and sustainable plan for reforming the Treaties and thus
prepare for the forthcoming intergovernmental conference.

The establishment of a structure with responsibility for preparing the next reform of the
Treaties does not mean that political leaders do not need to take part in the debate called for
by the Nice Declaration. On the contrary, it is necessary for the members of the European

3

Parliament, national parliaments and regional and local assemblies, as well as the members of
the national governments and the European Commission, to take full part in this debate.

This debate will be pursued beyond 2001. After a general phase,
it should become
increasingly specific as preparatory texts (e.g. the Laeken Declaration) or processes (e.g. the
discussions with the national parliaments on their role in the European architecture) provide it
with more precise subject matter.

3. The debate

What questions will the debate address?

Despite their importance, the four questions specifically identified in the Nice Declaration and
restated above are not the only ones to be considered in the reflection on the future of the
it must address the question of the
Union. If the debate is to lead to radical reform,
transparency and democratic legitimacy of the Union and its institutions and cover, in general,
all the questions that arise concerning the process of European integration, whether they relate
to its final objectives,
its institutional structures or its policies. Citizens must have the
opportunity to express their specific expectations and concerns during this debate.

And yet, there can be no serious debate without pointers or points of reference. The
achievements of the past are not sacrosanct, but the results of fifty years of integration in
terms of the reconciliation of peoples, political stability or economic growth cannot be
ignored.

In order to ensure that the debate retains a minimum degree of coherence and remains
relevant, particular attention should therefore be paid to the wording of the questions and
issues for this phase of open reflection. Like all the other parties that will wish to contribute to
the debate, the Commission may submit, when the time comes, topics that it considers
important for consideration, in order to define the next stages of European integration, the
policies to be conducted and the institutional adjustments needed to achieve these objectives.

Ensuring that the options expressed are listened to

In order to ensure that the debate is productive and that the objectives of the Declaration of
Nice are really met on this point, the opinions expressed must be listened to, examined,
summarised objectively and passed on to the political authorities, and to public opinion in
general and the media. While it is up to each Member State to draft its national summary, the
task of evaluating all the national summaries should be carried out at European level. For
practical reasons, it would therefore be advisable for the institutions to give concerted thought
to the way in which the executive summaries of these debates could be made and used. This
important matter should be dealt with swiftly.

In any event, the Commission believes that it would be desirable for the structure that will
prepare the next intergovernmental conference to be organised in such a way that it can
receive the contributions of those who take part in the debate, which implies the introduction
of specific resources and tools. For public opinion, this structure would thus be the European
focal point to which thoughts and proposals may be sent.

National initiatives and European initiatives

4

The wide-ranging debate called for by the Nice Declaration cannot be restricted to exchanges
between European experts. It must be based on active national debates. The debate on the
future of Europe will therefore have to have two separate, but interactive, dimensions:

- Each Member State should organise debates, depending on its own constraints, and, in
so doing, encourage meetings between people of different nationalities and with different
opinions. While the responsibilities in this area clearly lie at national level, the debate on
the future of the Union would take on a new dimension if the Member States, at the
initiative of the successive Presidencies, were to compare their practices. Although it is not
appropriate to draw up common guidelines on the way in which national debates should be
conducted, it would obviously be helpful to have regular contacts between Member States,
within the Council, in order to exchange information and compare resources and methods.
The arrangements for this joint reflection on the national initiatives could be included in
the report that will be presented to the European Council in Göteborg. In this connection, it
would be useful to find out what the applicant countries think about the way that the
national debates are going.

The Commission could offer practical support or, even, more extensive cooperation based on
the experience of the Dialogue on Europe to any Member States that so desire. This initiative,
which was introduced in March 2000 by the Commission, with the support of the European
Parliament, in order to encourage debates on the issues of the institutional reforms, led the
Commission to conclude agreements with certain Member States in order to contribute to the
organisation of events of general interest. The contribution from the Community budget must
naturally remain limited because this is a case of encouraging certain initiatives organised at
national level, rather than replacing them.

The Commission's representations in the Member States, in accordance with the priorities that
the Commission assigns to them, will monitor the national debates on the future of the Union
and help to raise the profile of these exchanges among the national and regional media.

The European debate will also have to develop, taking account specifically of the European
and transnational dimension of the debates organised by the Member States and the applicant
countries. This debate is based largely on European contributions and events. It is mainly in
this area that the Commission will take practical initiatives.

4. The European dimension of the debate

While the Member States are responsible for organising the national debates on European
issues, the Presidencies, starting with the Swedish and Belgian Presidencies, are responsible
for developing the European dimension of the debate, in cooperation with the Commission
and involving the European Parliament.

The parties to the debate

The Declaration of Nice foresees a large-scale operation, because it will be necessary to
involve, for the national and European initiatives, "representatives of national Parliaments and
all those reflecting public opinion: political, economic and university circles, representatives
of civil society, etc.", and the applicant countries.

It will no doubt be necessary to vary the measures to be taken depending on the target groups
and the representative bodies to be mobilised. The debate with the national parliaments,

5

which is particularly important, will have to be organised in a specific way. It will also be
necessary to examine how to draw on the multiplier potential of the Economic and Social
Committee and the Committee of the Regions.

The mobilisation of the opinion multipliers identified in the Nice Declaration does not rule
out the organisation of citizens' debates. The issues of the European debate must be explained
to as many people as possible so that, when the time comes, each person can express a view
with a knowledge of the facts.

6

The European initiatives

There are naturally many ways of creating a forum for European debate: encouraging
politicians to speak in countries other than their own, encouraging the media to report on the
debates that are held in other countries, translating and making accessible the content of the
debates that take place in Europe, and making use of European networks or federations of
networks (political, economic and university circles, civil society, etc.).

It will be important to ensure that the debate has a high profile by, no doubt, organising
several European-scale events and by ensuring the quality of the futurum Internet site opened
with the practical support of the Commission on 7 March 2001.

The Commission proposes that the Council, the Commission and the European Parliament
agree on the practical arrangements for encouraging the European debate. This methodology
could be evaluated by the European Council at its Göteborg meeting.

5. The involvement of the applicant countries

The Declaration on the future of the Union states that "the candidate States will be associated
with this process in ways to be defined". Without predetermining the initiatives that the
successive Presidencies of the Council might take, it should be pointed out that all the
interactive tools (Internet site and discussion forums) that
the Commission will make
available to citizens in the Community languages will be accessible to the citizens of the
applicant countries, who will thus be able to contribute directly to the debate.

As in the case of the Member States, the Commission considers that the initiative to develop
national debates on the future of the Union should come from the political authorities of these
countries. Consequently, it does not plan to organise any events itself, apart from events
relating to the visits of European personalities to these countries and financed under the
normal amounts allotted to the Commission's Delegations for this purpose.

It is also necessary to point out the operations planned by the Commission as part of the
information strategy on enlargement. This initiative, which pursues its specific objectives
using specific methods, will also contribute to the reflection on the future of Europe.

6. Practical arrangements for the debate - contribution of the Commission

Annex 1 to this Communication sets out the measures that the Commission proposes to take
to encourage the debate.

As far as resources are concerned, it should be emphasised that, in order to have a European
debate that lasts several years, it will be necessary to mobilise tools and services that operate
continuously. The Commission proposes taking over responsibility for managing the support
services and tools.

In the Dialogue on Europe operation, which was set up in February 2000 to accompany the
last reform of the Treaties, the Commission can claim proven experience in organising
debates, collecting and disseminating contributions, developing partnerships and mobilising
interactive communication tools.

7

The Dialogue on Europe was designed precisely to encourage the public debate on Europe. It
made it possible to conduct over 200 debates on Europe in the Member States. The interactive
site of the Dialogue did much to increase the involvement of citizens, especially through the
discussion forums.

This activity could be refocused so that the institutions are able to meet certain operational
needs of the debate on the future of Europe.

It should be noted that the Dialogue on Europe:

– already has an interinstitutional operating framework which, under the PRINCE programme,

defines its guidelines;

– uses a specific budget

line, B3-306, which also covers other information provision

operations (the euro, enlargement and the area of freedom, security and justice);

– operates in a flexible and decentralised way, with the involvement of the public authorities

concerned, but also of organisations from civil society at national and European level;

– uses, in particular, the new information technologies specially developed for establishing
interactive communication (discussion forums) and functioning in a network and in
cooperation with the States.

In order to adapt the Dialogue on Europe initiative, the interactive electronic dimension will
have to be strengthened. The subjects dealt with, which initially concentrated on institutional
issues, will have to cover the major questions on the future of the Union. The target groups
will have to be broadened to include the multipliers of opinion identified in the Nice
Declaration. The whole initiative will have to take on a new dimension.

The tools introduced to conduct the Dialogue on Europe, especially those for interactive
communication on EUROPA, could be used in their current form, provided that the essential
budgetary resources for their maintenance and use in the more ambitious context of the debate
on the future of the Union are made available. The instruments of the Dialogue on Europe
would thus raise the profile of the national and European initiatives and permit interaction
with public opinion, the press, the media, political, economic and university circles, etc.

As in the case of the other measures needed for encouraging the European debate, the specific
arrangements for giving a new focus to the Dialogue on Europe will have to be established by
common accord with the Council and the European Parliament.

It will also be necessary to develop as much synergy as possible with the other information
campaigns of the PRINCE programme, whose issues are an essential dimension of the debate
on the future of Europe, even though the initiative presented in this Communication does not
constitute a measure that comes under
information policy. A permanent system for
information exchange will be set up between the departments responsible for these activities
and will concern both the content and the form of the debates.

____________________

8

GUIDELINES FOR THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE COMMISSION TO THE
PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF THE EUROPEAN DEBATE

ANNEX 1

Key criteria for a successful debate

Three criteria have to be met to ensure that the debate is a lasting success:

– a bottom-up, citizens-driven approach is used;

– the debate is constantly stimulated by contributions from politicians and other senior

officials;

– last but not

least, an efficient

feedback mechanism is established to ensure that
contributions from citizens and others in the debate are summarised and channelled back to
the political level for information and reaction.

Actions proposed for 2001

1.

The Commission's main contribution from the beginning would be to put "Dialogue
on Europe", its lessons and its instruments at the disposal of the debate:

a)

b.

c.

d.

e.

f.

g.

h.

i.

j.

the "Dialogue on Europe" Internet site (transformed into the futurum "Future
of Europe" website);

the discussion forums on the website (with a forum for each priority theme in
the great debate);

active promotion of the website and the discussion forums (such as special
buttons to be offered to the websites all over the Commission, in the other
European institutions, and in governments, regions, organisations, the media,
etc.);

internet chats;

active involvement of the Commission's relays all over Europe;

active involvement of civil society partners with transEuropean networks;

active involvement of the media;

interactive cross-border events (with the help of video conferences or "Europe
by Satellite")

involvement of schools in the Member States and the applicant countries;

assistance in preparing and translating summaries of meetings, discussions and
chats.

9

2.

The Commission can prepare the ground technically for a more intensive debate in
2002 with more partners involved, by:

a.

b.

c.

arranging a tender to find partners who are willing to take part in, and promote,
the debate as of January 2002;

preparing an electronic mail system, which through push, as well as pull,
technology can target and reach particular groups in the Member States and the
applicant countries;

preparing the necessary budget and human resources for a larger operation
from 2002 onwards.

3.

The Commission can take part
in the preparations for the active and direct
participation of organisations in the debate. These efforts should involve, with the
active support of the Commission's Representations in the Member States and its
Delegations in the applicant countries:

a.

b.

c.

d.

e.

political circles (political parties; youth organisations; regions);

economic circles (such as organisations at European level);

university circles (such as the Jean Monnet professors, « think tanks »);

representatives of civil society;

the media.

Resources needed /Actions proposed for 2002

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

A stronger central team to assist and coordinate the debate.

A larger budget under the PRINCE budget line

A network of active partners in places all over Europe and in each activity area
(following the tender conducted in 2001).

The debate website to be further developed.

Interactive possibilities via Internet and other modern means (teletext, webcasting,
etc.) to be explored.

10

6.

A new electronic mailing system (push/pull), with all
included.

important

target groups

Organisation and budget

1.

2.

3.

The new "Future of Europe" debate has to be well coordinated both politically and
technically. A coordination committee, made up of officials of the Council, the
the operation goes
Commission and the European Parliament, will ensure that
smoothly. Specialised working groups may be established, where necessary (for the
website etc.). It might also be useful to envisage a political steering committee.

A large part of the total funding allocated to the "Dialogue on Europe" operation in
the Community budget can be earmarked for the new debate initiative, especially the
new website, and for the preparation of the new initiatives to be conducted in 2002.

It would be advisable to prepare a suitable name and a professional logo for the
debate in all
the Community languages (and the languages of the applicant
countries).

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1.

2.

3.

4.

ANNEX 2

Declaration on the future of the Union

Important reforms have been decided in Nice. The Conference welcomes the
successful conclusion of the Conference of Representatives of the Governments of
the Member States and commits the Member States to pursue the early ratification of
the Treaty of Nice.

the conclusion of

It agrees that
the
Governments of the Member States opens the way for enlargement of the European
Union and underlines that, with the ratification of the Treaty of Nice, the European
Union will have completed the institutional changes necessary for the accession of
new Member States.

the Conference of Representatives of

Having thus opened the way to enlargement, the Conference calls for a deeper and
wider debate about the future of the European Union. In 2001, the Swedish and
Belgian Presidencies,
in cooperation with the Commission and involving the
European Parliament, will encourage wide-ranging discussions with all interested
those reflecting public
parties: representatives of national Parliaments and all
opinion, namely political, economic and university circles, representatives of civil
society, etc. The candidate States will be associated with this process in ways to be
defined.

Following a report to be drawn up for the European Council in Göteborg in June
2001, the European Council, at its meeting at Laeken/Brussels in December 2001,
will agree on a declaration containing appropriate initiatives for the continuation of
this process.

5.

The process should address, inter alia, the following questions:

–

–

–

–

how to establish and monitor a more precise delimitation of powers between
the European Union and the Member States, reflecting the principle of
subsidiarity;

the status of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
proclaimed in Nice,
in accordance with the conclusions of the European
Council in Cologne;

a simplification of the Treaties with a view to making them clearer and better
understood without changing their meaning;

the role of national Parliaments in the European architecture.

6.

7.

Addressing the above-mentioned issues,
the Conference recognises the need to
improve and to monitor the democratic legitimacy and transparency of the Union and
its institutions, in order to bring them closer to the citizens of the Member States.

After these preparatory steps, the Conference agrees that a new Conference of the
Representatives of the Governments of the Member States will be convened in 2004,
to address the above-mentioned items with a view to making the corresponding
changes to the Treaties.

12

8.

The Conference of Member States will not constitute any form of obstacle or pre-
condition to the enlargement process. Moreover, those candidate States which have
concluded accession negotiations with the Union will be invited to participate in the
Conference. Those candidate States which have not concluded their accession
negotiations will be invited as observers.

13

LEGISLATIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Policy area(s):

Activity(ies):

TITLE OF ACTION: DEBATE ON THE FUTURE OF EUROPE

1.

BUDGET LINE(S) + HEADING(S)

B3-306 PRINCE (Programme for the Information of the European Citizen)

This financial statement only concerns the section "Debate on the future of Europe", and
therefore does not relate to the other actions covered by this line.

2.

2.1

OVERALL FIGURES

Total allocation for action (Part B):

€

million for commitment

€

€
€
€

The cost of the operation is estimated to be no more than
2002 financial year*:
4 500 000
3 500 000
2003 financial year*:
2004 financial year*:
1 500 000
(*): All the figures set out above and in the tables of this financial statement are given
purely for guidance, since the availability of appropriations depends on the annual
decision of the Budgetary Authority.

9 500 000:

2.2

Period of application:

2002 to 2004

2.3

Overall multiannual estimate of expenditure:

a) Schedule of commitment appropriations/payment appropriations (financial intervention) (see
point 6.1.1)

€

million (to 3rd decimal place)

Commitments

Year
2002
4.500

2004
2003
3.500 1.500

2005

Payments

3.000

3.500 2.500

0.500

Total
9.500

9.500

14

b) Technical and administrative assistance and support expenditure (see point 6.1.2)

Commitments

Payments

Subtotal a+b

Commitments

4.500

3.500

1.500

Payments

3.000

3.500

2.500

0.500

9.500

9.500

impact of human resources and other administrative expenditure

c) Overall
(see points 7.2 and 7.3)

financial

Commitments/
Payments

TOTAL a+b+c

0.594

0.594

0.594

Commitments

5.094

4.094

2.094

Payments

3.594

4.094

3.094

0.500

1.782

11.282

11.282

2.4

Compatibility with financial programming and financial perspective
(cid:1)

Proposal compatible with existing financial programming.

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

This proposal will entail reprogramming of the relevant heading in the financial
perspective.

This may entail application of the provisions of the Interinstitutional Agreement.

2.5

Financial impact on revenue

X

OR
(cid:2)

No financial implications (involves technical aspects regarding implementation of
a measure)

Financial impact – the effect on revenue is as follows:

3.

BUDGET CHARACTERISTICS

Type of expenditure

New

EFTA
participation

Participation
applicant
countries

Heading
Financial
Perspective

Non-comp/

Diff/

YES/NO

NO

NO

No

15

4.

LEGAL BASIS

Measures taken by the Commission by virtue of its institutional prerogatives

5.

5.1

DESCRIPTION AND GROUNDS

Need for Community intervention2

The debate on the future of Europe was decided by the Nice European Council.

5.1.1 Objectives pursued

Process of preparing for the IGC planned for 2004.

to involve all

The Heads of State and Government called (in the Declaration on the future of the
Union, to be included in the final act of the IGC) for a deeper and wider debate about
the future development of the European Union. The objective of this operation is to
through
encourage this wide-ranging debate,
partnerships, to provide the resources and the interactive tools to ensure that this debate
involves as many participants as possible and to facilitate the drafting of a summary at
European level. To this end, it is planned to mobilise the European networks of civil
society and political, university and economic circles for the organisation of the debate
and to set up an electronic interactive platform at European level in order to ensure
general access to the debate and provide a tool for the production of its results. The
operation includes communication activities to give the debate a high profile and
encourage citizens to take part.

interested parties

5.1.2 Measures taken in connection with ex ante evaluation

The proposed measure corresponds to the mandate from the intergovernmental
conference concluded in Nice in December 2000, which called for the rapid launch of a
the future development of the Union and gave the
deep and wide debate about
institutions the responsibility for encouraging the debate.

5.1.3 Measures taken following ex post evaluation

An initial evaluation will be conducted at the end of 2001 that will make it possible to
carry out any adjustments needed to the way in which the instruments are used.

5.2

Actions envisaged and budget intervention arrangements

These involve:

designing, developing and managing an Internet site with interactive systems (citizens'
forums): services contracts

concluding partnerships with national governments and networks from civil society in
order to promote the development of discussion meetings throughout Europe over three
years: financial contributions and agreements

producing communication material: contracts for products and services

2

For further information, see separate explanatory note.

16

5.3

Methods of implementation

The electronic tools will be developed and managed by firms under contract, under the
instructions of the officials of the service. The communication products will be
developed to order (firms under framework contract) or by invitation to tender.
Partnerships will be negotiated and concluded with governments of the Member States,
and the planned measures will be managed by the Member States on the basis of
agreements. Partnerships with networks will be concluded on the basis of calls for
proposals.

6 .

6.1

FINANCIAL IMPACT

Total financial impact on Part B - (over the entire programming period)

6.1.1 Financial intervention

(Commitments in

€

)

these costs are based on the working hypotheses (cf. Table 6.2)

2002

2003

2004

Total

Breakdown
to

Contribution

the

national debates

Citizens' meetings

650 000

500 000

1 150 000

Joint

initiatives with the

Member States

1 000 000

1 000 000

400 000

2 400 000

European networks and

partnerships

Networks

of

target

1 000 000

1 000 000

300 000

2 300 000

200 000

100 000

50 000

350 000

audiences

Audio-visual links

Interactive

tools

and

communication

Audio-visual products

165 000

100 000

100 000

365 000

Reference

dossiers

and

documents

Electronic bulletin

Internet portal

Promotion of the site

Pre-press, graphics

Electronic dissemination

235 000

150 000

350 000

100 000

100 000

150 000

100 000

p.m.

50 000

50 000

100 000

100 000

50 000

50 000

p.m.

p.m.

100 000

100 000

335 000

250 000

550 000

200 000

100 000

350 000

17

Use and summary of the

debate

Analysis and summary

European-scale events

200 000

200 000

Evaluation

100 000

200 000

100 000

150 000

100 000

100 000

450 000

500 000

200 000

TOTAL 4 500 000

3 500 000

1 500 000

9 500 000

18

1.1.1

1.1.2

1.1.3

Year N

N + 1

N + 2

Total

and

Technical

Technical

1)
administrative assistance
a)
offices
b) Other
administrative assistance
- intra-muros:
- extra-muros:

technical

assistance

and

of which for construction
and
of
maintenance
computerised management
systems

Subtotal 1

2) Support expenditure

a) Studies

b) Meeting of experts

Information

c)
publications

and

Subtotal 2

TOTAL

19

6.2.

Calculation of costs by measure envisaged in Part B (over the entire programming
period)3

(working hypotheses) Commitments in

€

million (to the 3rd decimal place)

Breakdown

Citizens' meetings

Joint initiatives with Member
States

Type
of outputs
(project, files)

1

contributions

agreements

Networks of target audiences

contributions

Audio-visual links

Audio-visual products

Electronic bulletin

Internet portal

Promotion of the site

coverage of
costs

products
(videos, VNR,
etc.)
services
charts

contracts

contracts

Number of
outputs
(total for years
1…n)
2

75

12

24

14

6

1

5

3

3

Average unit
cost

Total cost
(total for years
1…n)

3

15 000

4=(2X3)

1 150 000

200 000

2 400 000

100 000

2 400 000

25 000

350 000

55 000

330 000

25 000

250 000

550 000

25 000

50 000

350 000 then
100 000/year
100 000 then
50 000/year

Pre-press, graphics, etc.

contracts

10

10 000

100 000

Electronic dissemination
Design, development
Management and maintenance

Evaluation

European-scale events

contracts

contract
contracts

contracts

Analysis and summary

contributions

TOTAL COST

contracts

1
3

2

5

4

50 000
100 000

100 000

100 000

100 000

50 000
300 000

200 000

500 000

450 000

9 500 000

3

For further information, see separate explanatory note.

20

7.

IMPACT ON STAFF AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE

7.1.

Impact on human resources

Types of post

Staff to be assigned to management of the
action using existing and/or additional
resources

Number of
permanent posts

Number of
temporary posts

Total

Description of tasks deriving from the
action

Permanent
officials
Temporary staff

or

A

2

B

C

1

2

Other human resources

1

Total

1A : coordination and communication
work
1A : audio-visual work and media
networks
1 B : budgetary preparation, proposals
for commitments and preparation of
contracts
1C : secretariat
1C : follow-up of language work

Webmaster : design, management and
development of the Internet site and the
electronic forums

7.2

Overall financial impact of human resources

Type of human resources

Amount

€

Method of calculation *

Officials
Temporary staff

Other human resources

2A x 108 000 + 1 B x 108 000 + 2C x
108 000

1 auxiliary B (53556)

540 000

54 000
budget line
A 07000
594 000

Total

The amounts are total expenditure for twelve months.

7.3

Other administrative expenditure deriving from the action

€

Method of calculation

Budget line
(number and heading)

Overall allocation (Title A7)
A0701 – Missions
A07030 – Meetings
A07031 – Compulsory committees(1)
A07032 – Non-compulsory committees(1)
A07040 – Conferences
A0705 – Studies and consultations
Other expenditure (state which)
Information system (A-5001/A-4300)

Other expenditure – Part A (state which)

Amount

21

Total

The amounts are total expenditure for twelve months.

(1) Specify the type of committee and the group to which it belongs.

I.

II.

Annual total (7.2 + 7.3)

Duration of action

III.

Total cost of action (I x II)

€

594 000

3 Years
€

1 782 000

8

8.1

FOLLOW-UP ARRANGEMENTS

Follow-up arrangements

Monitoring and evaluation will be based on permanent instruments and on specific
evaluation exercises. The eurobarometer survey will provide indications on the state of
public opinion and how it develops. Although the objective pursued is mainly political,
since the task is to introduce an interactive mechanism to bring citizens and European
politicians closer together, it is felt that the number of visits to the site devoted to the
debate and the number of electronic contributions to the discussion forums are data that
can be used to evaluate the success of the operation. The departments consider that
an objective of 100 000 hits per month is an operational objective for the first
indicator. A figure of 300 contributors, on average, for each of the discussion
forums that will be open over the three years is a minimum objective for the
second indicator.

8.2

Arrangements and schedule for the planned evaluation

an interim evaluation will be carried out in the first half of 2003

a final evaluation will be carried out in 2004

A monitoring and evaluation system will accompany the conclusion of the partnerships
for the Member States with which agreements are implemented. For the meetings,
debates and partnerships, each financial contribution will be the subject of an activity
and financial report drawn up by the beneficiaries; this report will subsequently be
evaluated.

9.

ANTI-FRAUD MEASURES

The contracts will be drawn up using the tendering procedures under the financial
regulation in force. Partnerships with the Member States will be covered by co-
financing agreements for common information plans. Covering of costs for meetings
and debates will be based on agreements on financial contributions and will comply
with the relevant rules, particularly those set out in the Commission's vade-mecum.

22