Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions - Communicating Europe in Partnership {COM(2007) 569 final} {SEC(2007) 1265} {SEC(2007) 1267}
Date: 2007-10-03
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Council of the European Union, European Commission, European Parliament, cooperation policy, interinstitutional agreement

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 3.10.2007 
COM(2007) 568 final 

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL 
COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS 

Communicating Europe in Partnership 

{COM(2007) 569 final} 
{SEC(2007) 1265} 
{SEC(2007) 1267} 

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   EN 

 
 
 
  
TABLE OF CONTENTS 

INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................... 3 

1. 

2. 

2.1. 

2.2. 

3. 

3.1. 

3.2. 

3.3. 

4. 

COHERENT AND INTEGRATED COMMUNICATION......................................... 4 

EMPOWERING CITIZENS........................................................................................ 6 

Going local ................................................................................................................... 7 

Active European citizenship ........................................................................................ 8 

DEVELOPING A EUROPEAN PUBLIC SPHERE ................................................... 9 

The political dimension.............................................................................................. 10 

The media and information services .......................................................................... 11 

Understanding European public opinion.................................................................... 12 

REINFORCING THE PARTNERSHIP APPROACH.............................................. 13 

4.1.  Working together with the Member States ................................................................ 13 

4.2.  Working together with the European institutions ...................................................... 15 

4.3. 

Inter-institutional agreement on communication ....................................................... 15 

5. 

CONCLUSIONS........................................................................................................ 16

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COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL 
COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS 

Communicating Europe in Partnership 

INTRODUCTION 

Fifty  years  on  from  the  signing  of  the  Treaty  of  Rome,  the  European  Union  continues  to 
transform  and  reform  itself  to  make  the  most  of  the  opportunities  of  and  respond  to  the 
challenges  in  areas  such  as  globalisation,  energy  efficiency  and  independence,  mobility, 
competitiveness,  migration,  security  and  climate  change.  Today's  Union  is  larger,  more 
diverse and deals with increasingly complex issues where the EU value added is significant 
but not easy to communicate. 

In  this  new  environment  a  more  sophisticated  way  of  working  is  required,  one  that  heavily 
relies on a partnership between different actors across European society to deliver results that 
matter  to  European  citizens  and  are  adequately  debated  with  them.  Evidence  suggests  that 
there is an underlying conviction amongst European citizens that our societies can only tackle 
today’s challenges by working on a European scale. This shift in the purpose and focus of the 
Union today thus fits well with the aspirations of citizens.  

Today,  more  than  ever,  the  debate  on  Europe  must  be  taken  beyond  the  institutions  to  its 
citizens.  This  was  emphasised  by  the  2007  June  European  Council  which  underlined  the 
crucial  importance  of  reinforcing  communication  with  the  European  citizens,  providing  full 
and  comprehensive  information  on  the  European  Union  and  involving  them  in  a  permanent 
dialogue1.  This  will  be  particularly  important  during  the  Reform  Treaty  ratification  process 
and as we approach the 2009 European elections.  

The Commission shares this challenge with all EU institutions, bodies and Member States. A 
properly conceived and adequately resourced communication policy is an essential element in 
the  range  of  EU  policies.  It  must  combine  proximity  to  the  citizens  together  with  a  reach 
extending across the Union and beyond its current borders to the countries aspiring to become 
members as well as to the rest of the world.  

This  Commission  has  already  adopted  three  initiatives  centred  on  listening,  communicating 
and ‘going local’. The Action Plan2 kicked off a major internal reform of the Commission’s 
use  of  communication  resources.  Plan  D3  created  a  long-term  framework  for  citizens’ 
dialogue to go beyond the current “future of Europe” debate. Most recently, the White Paper 
on a European Communication Policy4 advocated two-way communication, involving active 
public  participation  of  citizens  with  a  shift  in  emphasis  from  a  Brussels-based  to  a  ‘going 
local’ approach.  

1 
2 
3 
4 

SI(2007) 500. 
SEC(2005) 985. 
COM(2005) 494. 
COM(2006) 35. 

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This Communication uses the results of the above initiatives5 to consolidate current activities 
and to formulate a set of concrete proposals which should serve as the basis of an enhanced 
communication policy for the European Union, which respects the autonomy of the different 
institutions.  The  overall  objective  is  to  strengthen  coherence  and  synergies  between  the 
activities undertaken by the different EU institutions and by Member States, in order to offer 
citizens  better  access  and  a  better  understanding  of  the  impact  of  EU  policies  at  European, 
national  and  local  level.  Such  a  policy  will  address  fundamental  concerns  of  citizens,  for 
whom the information on the EU seems disorganised, dispersed and difficult to understand. 
EU  issues  are  mainly  seen  through  national  lenses  and  rarely  presented  in  a  trans-national 
context, despite the fact that many practical challenges faced by citizens can only be solved at 
European  level.  Moreover,  citizens’  knowledge  of  the  EU,  its  institutions  and  policies  is 
rather  limited.  This  situation  should  first  be  addressed  by  the  Member  States  through  the 
educational systems, for which they are responsible. It should also be tackled by democratic 
platforms,  including  national  and  European  level  political  parties  which  have  the 
responsibility  of  transmitting  conflicting  views  in  order  to  animate  and  structure  the  public 
debate on EU issues.  

For  its  part,  the  Commission  will  reinforce  its  communication  activities  by  providing 
information  and  engaging  in  debate  and  discussion  with  citizens  in  national,  regional  and 
local  contexts,  thus  promoting  active  European  citizenship  and  contributing  to  the 
development  of  a  European  public  sphere.  The  Commission  also  considers 
that 
communication  on  European  issues  is  the  responsibility  of  all  those  involved  in  the  EU 
decision-making  process.  Therefore,  while  fully  retaining  its  institutional  prerogatives,  the 
Commission  intends  to  work  in  close  partnership  with  the  other  EU  institutions,  inviting 
Member  States  and  all  interested  stakeholders  around  selected  annual  communication 
priorities to reach this objective. To support this partnership, the Commission is proposing an 
inter-institutional agreement (IIA), to structure the EU communication process, and to invite 
all  stakeholders  to  engage  themselves  to  work  within  the  proposed  coherent  and  flexible 
institutional  framework.  This  will  allow  the  development  of  a  common  annual  work  plan 
around selected EU communication priorities. 

1. 

COHERENT AND INTEGRATED COMMUNICATION 

The Commission’s communication activities aim at creating and nurturing exchanges, debates 
and understanding between European institutions, the general public, organised civil society 
and  specialised  audiences  at  European,  national,  regional  and  local  levels.  Moreover, 
engaging with the citizens and creating a new impetus for transparency should be seen as an 
integral  part  of  any  issue.  Time  and  an  appropriate  share  of  the  resources  available  should 
therefore be dedicated to such activities. 

Communication activities are carried out by a large number of Commission departments using 
audiovisual media, internet, the written press, publications, events and information relays. To 
have  the  best  possible  impact  we  need  to  integrate  these  effectively  and  mobilise  all  the 
available resources in a coherent manner. 

The Spokespersons’ Service will remain a cornerstone of the Commission’s communication 
policy, concentrating on the delivery of Commission news to written and audiovisual media in 

5 

SEC(2007) 1265. 

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Brussels  and  beyond  and  on  responding  to  media  enquiries.  In  addition,  the  Commission 
recently  adopted  an  Internal  Communication  and  Staff  Engagement  Strategy6,  encouraging 
more  staff  to  have  contacts  with  the  public  and  the  media.  This  strategy  includes  the 
information and briefing of staff as well as training a pool of speakers from the Commission 
services.  In  particular,  senior  Commission  officials  should  be  empowered  and  trained  to 
communicate  on  EU  policies  and  to  participate  in  public  debates  as  well  as  to  play  an 
important role in engaging with the media, complementing the impact of the media work of 
Commissioners. 

The Commission will continue to work with various multipliers in order to support them in 
providing  information  to  the  citizens  on  the  ground.  A  range  of  ongoing  activities  already 
provides  elements  essential  to  an  effective  communications  policy,  promoting  transparency 
and  openness  (“European  Transparency  Initiative”7),  a  Europe  close  to  the  citizen  (“A 
Citizens’ Agenda — Delivering results for Europe”8), European active citizenship (the Europe 
for  Citizens  programme9),  and  European  culture  (“A  European  Agenda  for  Culture  in  a 
Globalising World”10). 

There  is  scope  for  further  increasing  the  visibility  of  EU  action  at  all  levels  and  for 
demonstrating its utility to citizens. The Commission cooperates with the Member States on 
communicating EU action in various policy areas. In the fields of cohesion, environment and 
rural  development  policies,  managing  authorities  must  meet  minimum  communication 
requirements; Member States are legally obliged to provide information on the programme to 
the general public as well as to potential beneficiaries11. Where there are no legal obligations, 
the  Commission  will  nonetheless  ensure  that  communication  is  an  integral  part  of  all 
initiatives and programmes. 

The Commission’s communication activities in third countries aim to strengthen the image of 
the EU as a global actor and to build good relationships through pro-active public diplomacy, 
thereby  helping  the  Commission  achieve  its  external  policy  goals.  It  is  based  on  a  common 
strategy  between  the  departments  in  charge  of  specific  external  policies,  ensuring  more 
coherent actions and greater synergy when communicating the various policies, and allowing 
greater visibility for them. Most of this is done with the active participation of Commission 
Delegations.  The  Commission  will  submit  to  the  Inter-institutional  Group  on  Information 
(IGI) a paper on the EU’s communication in third countries. 

Based  on  the  Commission’s  strategic  multi-annual  objectives,  key  initiatives  with  a  major 
communication impact were identified for the first time in this year’s Annual Policy Strategy 
(APS)  and  this  will  be  a  feature  of  the  APS  in  the  future.  Subsequently,  these  selected 
communication priorities are incorporated in the Commission’s Legislative Work Programme 

6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 

SEC(2007) 912. 
COM(2006) 194. 
COM(2006) 211. 
Decision No 1904/2006/EC (OJ L 378, 27.12.2006). 
COM(2007) 242. 
For  example,  for  2007-2013,  Commission  Regulation  (EC)  No  1828/2006  of  8  December  2006 
implementing the Structural Funds, and Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 of 20 September 2005 on Rural 
Development  FEADER  fund  lay  down  the  following  communication  requirements  for  managing 
authorities: publication of lists of beneficiaries; putting up information banners on the sites of ongoing 
projects, and national and regional launch events or annual communication events in the Member States 
and regions. The Commission Representations may contribute by disseminating information to potential 
beneficiaries. 

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(CLWP)12.  The  Commission  intends  to  better  coordinate  communication  activities  of  all 
relevant services on these cross-cutting, citizen-oriented issues by setting up dedicated project 
teams13  to  develop  a  communication  plan  specifying  tools,  resources  and  evaluation 
methods14.  The  “Energy/Climate  Change”  package  of  January  2007  represented  one  of  the 
first attempts at this kind of integrated communication approach. Building on the experience 
gained, this working method will be refined and applied wherever possible.  

The  proposals  in  this  communication  can  be  implemented  within  the  existing  multi-annual 
financial  programme15.  With  limited  resources,  however,  they  will  require  significant 
efficiency  gains  and  the  development  of  greater  synergies,  mobilising  those  resources  to 
communicating  Europe,  and  by 
including  communication  activities  within  annual 
management plans.  

2. 

EMPOWERING CITIZENS 

More  than  eight  out  of  every  ten  Europeans  feel  that  it  is  important  to  be  informed  about 
European issues. Seven out of ten Europeans want to know more about their rights as citizens. 
Close  to  two  thirds  of  Europeans  think  that  available  information  on  the  EU  is  useful  and 
interesting, but almost as many find it insufficient16. There is a desire for a more open debate, 
where citizens express their opinions in order to influence the decision-making at EU level.  

In line with recent European Council conclusions, the Commission is developing appropriate 
structures,  means  and  skills  to  fulfil  its  obligation  to  ensure  adequate  information  and  to 
involve  citizens  in  dialogue  and  debate.  The  first  six  trans-national  Plan  D  civil  society 
projects  were  launched  in  2006.  In  2007,  a  second  set  of  projects  was  supported,  this  time 
locally,  targeting  primarily  youth  and  women.  In  the  course  of  the  coming  months,  the 
Commission  will  take  stock  of  the  results  of  Plan  D  and  present  proposals  to  widen  the 
democratic  debate  throughout  Europe.  This  stocktaking  will  be  done  in  parallel  with  the 
ratification process of the Reform Treaty by Member States and the run-up to the European 
parliamentary elections. A third group of civil society projects will be launched by 2008-09, 
including supporting initiatives to increase the turnout in the next European elections.  

The  renewed  Plan  D  framework  will  also  aim  to  involve  the  many  partners  involved  in  the 
development  of  the  European  Union,  including  NGOs,  professional  associations  and  the 
increasing  number  of  enterprises  that  want  to  learn  more  about  Europe,  its  policies, 
programmes  and  processes.  Their  communication  resources  and  know-how  are  often  very 
significant and the Commission will seek to develop partnerships with them to communicate 
on subjects of general interest such as climate change and the fight against xenophobia. 

12 

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14 

15 
16 

Some of these priorities will be discussed within the Inter-institutional Group on Information to explore 
the possibility of joint action (see point 4.2). 
A good example of such an approach is the wine market reform campaign. 
The  Directorate-General  for  Communication  will  devote  human  and  budgetary  resources  to 
communication  priorities,  and  will  ask  Commission  Representations  to  do  the  same  in  their  Annual 
Management Plans. 
As set out in SEC(2007) 500 and SEC(2007) 530. 
All  public  opinion  survey  results  in  this  Communication  come  from  the  Flash  Eurobarometer on  the 
White Paper, No 189a: EU Communication and the Citizens. Fieldwork was conducted in September 
2006. 

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In this context, multilingualism is crucial. In the last few years, the Commission has doubled 
the  number  of  languages  in  which  it  communicates.  The  Commission  has  also  set  up  a 
network  of  field  offices  for  multilingualism  in  the  Representations.  In  a  situation  of  limited 
resources, trade-offs between increasing the amount of information published and broadening 
the audience appear inevitable, and will require a coherent approach. 

2.1. 

Going local 

Communicating  at  regional  and  local  level  is  essential  for  involving  citizens  in  a  European 
debate, as has been confirmed by our experience in implementing the Action Plan and Plan D. 
The  pilot  project  putting  additional  communication  staff  into  eleven  of  the  Commission’s 
Representations in the Member States and four regional offices has enabled a step change in 
the number and quality of activities designed to promote a European debate  within  national 
political  cultures17.  The  Commission  attaches  importance  to  building  on  this  successful 
experience, and, subject to the result of the current evaluation of all ongoing communication 
activities, will consider consolidating and extending it. 

The  reinforced  activities  in  pilot  Representations  have  been  complemented  by  the  work 
carried  out  by  over  400  Europe  Direct  information  relays  which  provide  EU  information 
locally and regionally, including in rural areas. The Commission will open new Europe Direct 
information  relays  in  Bulgaria  and  Romania  as  from  2008.  Next  year  the  Commission  will 
also  launch  a  call  for  proposals  to  renew  the  whole  network  across  the  EU-27.  This  will 
further  improve  geographical  coverage  and  ensure  that  relays  can  provide  information  on 
communication priorities as well as on other issues which are essential for citizens. 

The Commission also manages a significant number of information and assistance networks 
covering specific policy areas, such as EURES, ERA-MORE18, SOLVIT19 and the Euro Info 
Centres and Innovation Relay Centres20. These centres represent unique links and multipliers 
with  a  large  number  of  actors  operating  at  local  and  regional  level  (social  partners’ 
organisations,  universities,  enterprises,  employment  services,  chambers  of  commerce, 
language  and  training  centres).  The  Commission  will  look  at  the  feasibility  of  closer 
coordinated  action  between  these  centres  that  will  enhance  the  Commission’s  capacity  to 
communicate.  Greater  synergy  between  the  networks  is  being  explored  in  the  External 
Communication  Network,  in  particular  around  selected  communication  priorities.  An  inter-
service group has been set up to look at how different Commission networks could cooperate 
in a Single Market Assistance Service.  

In addition to communicating with the public and civil society, the Representations will step 
up  their  activities  in  organising  Commissioners’  visits  to  the  regions21  and  in  supporting 

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19 

20 

21 

In 2006, the pilot Representations organised over 830 seminars, 4 000 press statements and conferences 
and assisted in more than 370 visits by Commissioners. 
EURES — European Employment Services; ERA-MORE — European Network of Mobility Centres. 
SOLVIT  is  an  on-line  problem  solving  network  in  which  EU  Member  States  work  together  to  solve 
without  legal  proceedings  problems  caused  by  the  misapplication  of  Internal  Market  law  by  public 
authorities. 
The activities of current Euro Info Centres and Innovation Relay Centres will be taken over in 2008 by 
a new network to support business and innovation. It will connect some 600 centres covering most of 
the territory of the EU-27.  
This  will  be  done  primarily,  although  not  exclusively,  by  building  on  the  success  of  Commissioners’ 
visits  to  various  regions  in  the  country  of  the  Presidency  on  the  occasion  of  the  traditional  meetings 
between the Commission and the Presidency at the beginning of the Presidency term. 

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efforts to offer information to regional and local journalists via modern media technology as 
well as traditional means. The involvement of other EU bodies, such as the decentralised EU 
agencies,  will  provide  concrete  examples  of  EU  initiatives  at  the  service  of  citizens.  The 
Representations  and  the  European  Parliament’s Information  Offices  are  working  together  to 
establish closer links. In most cases, they are under one roof in the Houses of the European 
Union. While retaining their distinct identities, this increases their visibility and allows more 
joint action.  

A  common  pilot  project  with  the  European  Parliament  is  being  launched  in  2007-2008  to 
create  European  Public  Spaces  to  host  a  wide  range  of  European  activities,  starting  in  the 
Houses of Europe in Tallinn, Dublin and Madrid. The pilot phase of these European Public 
Spaces  will  attract  new  audiences  and  create  a  new  visual  image  —  one  that  is  also  more 
targeted at the younger generation. As a “meeting place” for citizens, NGOs, political actors 
and  the  media,  the  European  Public  Spaces  will  be  designed  to  host  exhibitions,  films, 
meetings, visits, discussions, forums of debate and lectures focusing mainly on civil society, 
politics, education, academia, think tanks and the cultural world. They will make a concrete 
contribution to implementing the “European agenda for culture in a globalising world”. Links 
to the network of National Institutes of Culture (EUNIC) will be established to promote the 
various  cultural  programmes  and  other  initiatives  supported  by  the  EU  institutions,  while 
cooperating with regional and local networks, civil society and the media to reach the widest 
possible audience in urban and rural areas. European Public Spaces will offer new facilities, 
such  as  a  conference  centre,  an  information  office,  an  exhibition  area  and  a  reading  area. 
Some  of  these  may  already  exist  but  the  openness  of  the  spaces  and  efforts  to  attract  new 
actors to engage with the Commission and Parliament will generate a new environment. 

In the light of the good experience with communication on the reform of the wine sector, EU 
policy initiatives could be presented by policy specialists to interested parties and the general 
public  on  the  day  of  their  adoption,  simultaneously  in  Brussels  and  in  Member  States, 
depending on the resources available to the Representations and policy departments. 

2.2. 

Active European citizenship 

The consultation process on the White Paper has confirmed strong demand from civil society 
actors  for  closer  involvement  in  the  European  process.  The  Commission  already  supports 
active European citizenship through the “Europe for Citizens” and the “Fundamental Rights 
and Citizenship”22 programmes, which encourage greater participation in the EU’s democratic 
life.  The  “Youth  in  Action”  and  “Culture”  programmes  also  contribute  to  promoting  active 
citizenship through cross-border mobility exchanges. 

Education  and  training  for  active  citizenship  is  the  responsibility  of  the  Member  States. 
Peoples’ rights and duties as European citizens are part of the school curriculum in less than 
half of the EU Member States; the history of European integration is included in 20 Member 
States23. There is added value to be provided by European work on coordinating the exchange 
of best practice. All those involved should make full use of the European recommendation on 
key  competences  for  lifelong  learning,  which  provides  Member  States  with  a  tool  for 
promoting social and civic competences as part of the essential skills every citizen needs to 

22 
23 

Council Decision 16505/06 of 27 March 2007. 
Citizenship Education at School in Europe, The information network on education in Europe (Eurydice) 
2005. 

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prosper in the knowledge society. This includes foreign language learning, which is valuable 
for acquiring intercultural competencies, which are in turn an important component of active 
European  citizenship.  The  Commission  will  use  the  results  of  a  2007  public  consultation 
which  will  identify  the  aspects  of  school  education  where  joint  action  at  EU  level  could 
support Member States. For example, it will examine how schools could best provide students 
with the key competences, and how school communities can help prepare young people to be 
responsible citizens, in line with fundamental European values. 

The  Lifelong  Learning  programme  supports  projects  which  are  relevant  to  education  and 
training  for  active  citizenship  and  promoting  civic  competences.  The  Commission  will  also 
promote  the  sharing  of  best  practice  between  teachers  in  this  area.  The  Commission  will 
provide support for compiling information dossiers around European themes, including links 
to the relevant publications that can be downloaded from the EUROPA website, to be used by 
interested schools and teachers.  

The Commission wishes to introduce more targeted visits for students and schoolchildren, and 
will  explore  how  this  could  be  achieved.  Commission  Representations  and  Europe  Direct 
Relays  will  also  invite  groups  from  different  social  sectors  (including  students)  to  seminars 
and  debates  on  their  premises,  using  existing  information  materials.  The  visits  made  by 
around  400  German  European  Union  officials  to  their  former  schools  during  the  German 
Presidency  in  2007  were  highly  successful,  generating  debate  inside  the  schools  as  well  as 
local  media  coverage.  The  Commission  intends  to  continue  this  experience  with  future 
Presidencies.  Similarly,  the  Commission  will  continue  the  “9  May  Initiative  in  Schools” 
implemented  in  close  cooperation  with  local  and  regional  authorities,  members  of  the 
European Parliament and civil society24. 

The Commission  promotes relations with civil society  organisations and their trans-national 
networks through its programmes and policies, with the support of an internal network of civil 
society  contacts  to  share  good  practice,  to  reflect  on  common  problems  and  to  develop  a 
coherent approach between Commission units responsible for relations with civil society. The 
Commission will increase civil society organisations’ access to the Commission by naming a 
specific civil society contact point in each of its departments. 

3. 

DEVELOPING A EUROPEAN PUBLIC SPHERE 

Many  political  decisions  that  have  a  significant  impact  on  Europeans’  day-to-day  lives  are 
taken  at  European  level.  Policies  which  are  seen  to  match  the  expectations  of  citizens  — 
whether on the internal market, climate change, sustainable mobility, trade, energy policy, or 
migration — and which are based on widespread consultation exercises are the best way of 
demonstrating  the  relevance  of  the  EU  to  its  citizens.  Communication  about  those  policies 
needs  to  go  beyond  national  boundaries,  with  cross-border  communication  channels 
promoting debate and dialogue on issues of common concern while reflecting the European 
agenda.  

24 

In  2007,  EuropeAid  organised  the  visit  of  75  “ambassadors”  to  schools  in  44  regions  in  18  Member 
States  to  engage  in debate  on  external  cooperation,  directly  reaching 97 000 pupils.  In  a  similar  way, 
but  not  only  limited  to  schools,  DG  AGRI  has  in  place  a  Green  Team  of  around  80  ambassadors  in 
order to address public concerns and explain CAP and rural development policy. 

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Only if the EU is delivering on its policies will there be a consequent increase in the depth 
and extent of debate about the EU. The need to ensure safe chemicals are used in European 
products;  opening  up  the  market  for  services;  lowering  barriers  to  cross-border  payments; 
improving  consumer  rights;  reinforcing  air  transport  safety,  promoting  food  safety  and 
quality, protecting the countryside and the environment, agreeing on an integrated climate and 
energy  policy;  cross-border  police  cooperation;  reducing  the  cost  of mobile  calls  made 
abroad: all these issues have been subject to European decision-making accompanied by often 
heated  debate.  This  debate  needs  to  be  encouraged,  and  can  only  take  place  if  the  policy-
making process is seen to be relevant and to add value to the legislative process in individual 
Member States. 

3.1. 

The political dimension 

The levels of participation and the extent to which European Parliament elections are fought 
on  European  policies  are,  together,  a  measure  of  the  extent  of  the  challenge  of  creating  a 
the  elected 
European  public  sphere.  National  and  European  political  parties,  and 
representatives  belonging  to  different  political  families,  are  in  a  privileged  position  to  raise 
European issues in national debates and to contribute to creating Europe-wide public debates. 
It  is  precisely  the  contested  and  often  polarised  nature  of  the  exchanges  between  political 
parties which generates interest and a demand for greater levels of information on the issues 
concerned.  In  recent  years,  there  have  been  a  number  of  high-profile  examples  of  public 
interest  in  European  policy  issues  generated  by  party  political  and  electoral  divisions  over 
such issues25.  

The  Commission  is  committed  to  supporting  efforts  to  increase  the  participation  rate  in  the 
next European Parliamentary elections. The next Plan D civil society projects will, in part, be 
aimed  at  contributing  to  this.  In  addition,  in  June  2007  the  Commission  has  adopted  a 
proposal  to  revise  the  existing  Regulation  on  European  Political  Parties26,  to  allow  the 
establishment of European political foundations. This will also contribute to strengthening an 
informed  and  genuine  debate  on  European  issues  and  to  the  development  of  a  European 
public sphere. 

Furthermore, the Commission will aim to maximise communication potential in its relations 
with  national  parliaments.  Delivering  on  a  proposal  by  the  European  Parliament,  the 
Commission is working on the creation of Pilot Information Networks (PINs), a network of 
internet  discussion  forums  between  members  of  the  European  Parliament,  members  of 
national  parliaments,  journalists  and  opinion-makers,  supplemented  by  meetings  across  the 
EU. PINs will make a substantial contribution to introducing European debates into national 
parliaments.  They  will  also  promote  debate  between  national  parliamentarians  on  European 
themes, and will contribute to supporting the national parliaments' own electronic information 
exchange systems. 

25 
26 

Examples include the Constitution, enlargement and economic proposals such as the Services Directive. 
COM(2007) 364. 

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3.2. 

The media and information services 

The Commission will put forward concrete proposals to better respond to challenges related to 
new  media  technologies  by  the  end  of  this  year27.  Audiovisual  media  continue  to  be  the 
preferred source of information on European affairs. TV and radio present European issues in 
the context of news and debates when important European policies are being decided. TV and 
radio spots are also broadcast in the context of information campaigns promoting specific EU 
policies. Still, studies show28 — and two thirds of Europeans continue to believe — that the 
EU-related information provided by national media is insufficient. 

The  Commission  will  contribute  to  greater  and  more  sustainable  coverage  of  EU  affairs  on 
existing  audiovisual  channels,  and  encourage  European  networking  by  broadcasters.  The 
consultation on the White Paper indeed showed strong support for the Commission to provide 
audiovisual  information,  education  and  entertainment  on  European  affairs  as  part  of  public 
service  missions  across  the  EU  Member  States.  Such  missions  must  be  executed  in  a  way 
which guarantees broadcasters’ complete editorial independence. 

The  existing  policy  of  co-financing  radio  and  TV  programmes  has  encouraged  dozens  of 
audiovisual  channels  to  develop  EU  programmes.  To  enhance  its  effectiveness,  the 
Commission  will  offer  multi-annual  contracts  for  networks  of  broadcasters  across  Europe. 
These networks will independently produce and broadcast EU affairs programmes according 
to their own editorial standards using common programme formats. The contracts will contain 
a binding editorial charter guaranteeing the editorial freedom of the operators. 

Europe by Satellite (EbS), the Commission’s service for audiovisual coverage of EU affairs, 
will also contribute and facilitate the public service missions outlined above. Demand for time 
on  EbS  has  reached  saturation  point,  with  live  coverage  of  events  such  as  the  European 
Parliament’s plenary and committee meetings conflicting with the transmission of raw footage 
news  packages  for  professional  journalists  and  press  conferences.  The  Commission  will 
therefore propose to the other European institutions the option of doubling EbS’ capacity, to 
cover a wider range of EU activities. 

The  internet  is  the  main  medium  for  combining  text,  sound  and  vision  and  for  enabling 
feedback from and discussion among users. It is already the principal medium of cross-border 
debate.  The  redevelopment  of  the  EUROPA  website,  one  of  the  biggest  in  the  world,  will 
continue  by  increasing  interactivity  and  improving  navigation  and  search  functions29.  Web 
content  will  be  organised  in  a  more  accessible  and  user-friendly  way,  while  more  images, 
video and audio material should be provided. In this way, EUROPA will remain an important 
European reference point for information on EU matters, complementing the sites provided by 
national  administrations.  Proposals  to  develop  EUROPA  will  be  based  upon  a  user  survey 
carried out in 2007. 

In  addition,  the  EU  needs  to  strengthen  its  presence  on  the  web  beyond  EUROPA.  The 
Commission wishes to encourage the development of a network of civil society and private or 

27 

28 

29 

The  various  proposals  presented  in  this  section  follow  the  recommendations  of  the  stakeholder 
conference “Europe in Vision”, held on 4 and 5 December 2006 in Helsinki. 
L’information relative à l’Europe et la télévision, Étude qualitative auprès de téléspectateurs dans les 
27 États membres de l’Union européenne, European Commission, April 2007. 
The Directorate-General for Informatics has conducted a study with a view to making recommendations 
for an Enterprise Wide Search and Retrieval Strategy in the Commission. 

EN 

11 

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public  sector  websites  which  promote  contact  with  or  between  European  citizens  by 
supporting websites that devote particular attention to European affairs and stimulate debate 
on EU policy issues. The Commission itself should also be more involved in interviews and 
participation in discussions in other sites. All these developments will be spelled out in detail 
in  the  Internet  and  in  the  Audiovisual  Strategy  papers  that  the  Commission  will  present 
respectively before the end of 2007 and in early 2008. 

Paper  publications  will  continue  to  have  a  role  to  play  in  EU  communication.  Despite  the 
growing  domination  of  the  internet,  the  demand  for  paper  publications  has  increased.  It  is 
therefore  essential  to  develop  a  cross-media  publishing  policy,  combining  publications  on 
paper,  on  the  web  and  in  audiovisual  formats,  using  the  latest  developments  in 
communication technologies30.  

3.3. 

Understanding European public opinion 

Measuring public opinion is central to listening to what Europeans think about — and what 
they  expect  from  —  the  EU.  Eurobarometer  surveys  help  to  analyse  public  expectations  in 
various  policy  fields,  to  assess  the  impact  of  policies  and  to  identify  public  concerns  and 
perceptions in order to improve both policy-making and communication. 

The  Commission  will  introduce  innovations  in  the  methods  used  by  the  Eurobarometer  in 
response  to  the  White  Paper  consultation31  to  increase  its  ability  to  listen  and  respond  to 
public opinion. The goal is to use surveys more strategically in relevant phases of the policy 
process  such  as  policy  formulation  and  impact  assessment,  as  well  as  in  the  design  and 
evaluation of communication activities. 

Concrete  improvements  will  include  more  widespread  use  of  qualitative  research  tools, 
including  the  innovative  methods  of  some  of  the  Plan  D  projects,  and  the  combination  of 
analysis  of  quantitative  and  qualitative  data  to  give  a  fuller  picture  of  public  expectations. 
Targeted public opinion research methods will be used more widely to measure the impact of 
communication.  Analysis  of  research  results  will  be  improved  by  reacting  faster,  focusing 
more sharply on the actual use of results, and looking also at regional and local results. On-
demand  secondary  analysis  of  available  data  to  answer  targeted  questions  will  be  more 
widespread. Results will be disseminated faster and wider. A network of national experts on 
public opinion will be set up, with a consultative function, to exchange best practice, promote 
synergies, and advise on methodological issues. 

The  Europe  Direct  Contact  Centre32  is  an  information  service  for  citizens,  answering 
questions  free  of  charge  in  all  EU  official  languages.  It  will  be  promoted  as  the  main  entry 
point  for  citizens  seeking  information  on  the  EU  and  will  develop  the  capacity  to  provide 
feedback  on  concerns  raised  to  the  relevant  Commission  departments  and  other  EU 
institutions. 

30 

31 

32 

The Publications Office has primary responsibility for publications off- and on-line. It is governed by 
an  inter-institutional  Management  Committee.  The  Publications  Office  manages  the  EU  Bookshop 
which is the single entrance point for citizens to all EU publications. 
As  suggested  at  the  stakeholder  conference  ‘Understanding  European  public  opinion’,  Madrid,  27 
October 2006. 
Based in Brussels. 

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12 

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Consultation is a necessary and useful reality check for proposals. But it will only be effective 
if  sufficiently  broad  and  inclusive.  Since  the  adoption  of  minimum  standards  for 
consultation33, the Commission has consulted interested parties and EU citizens on a range of 
policy  initiatives.  The  standard  website  for  internet  consultations  ‘Your  Voice  in  Europe’ 
(europa.eu/yourvoice)  helps  to  clarify  the  consultation  process  and  encourages  Commission 
departments to apply the standards consistently. In order to encourage better feedback, greater 
pluralism and inclusiveness in the views and interest expressed by national, regional and local 
stakeholders  at  this  early  stage  of  policy  development,  the  recent  practice  of  involving  the 
Representations  in  promoting  consultations  in  the  Member  States  will  be  strengthened.  The 
Representations will, for example, organise early contacts and meetings with stakeholders to 
encourage their contributions to the main consultations linked to communication priorities. 

4. 

REINFORCING THE PARTNERSHIP APPROACH 

EU institutions, bodies and Member States, and regional and local authorities across Europe 
all communicate on European policy issues in various ways and to different degrees. All those 
involved more directly in European decision making have an obligation to communicate and 
explain. They must all maintain their autonomy and prerogatives to communicate in their own 
way,  but  there  is  considerable  scope  for  them  to  work  together  as  partners  in  promoting 
debate  and  discussion  on  Europe.  Up  to  now,  attempts  to  promote  common  communication 
actions have been ad hoc and limited and it has proved necessary to agree on common themes 
and  to  work  together  more  effectively.  It  was  clear  from  the  White  Paper  consultation  that 
there  was  demand  for  greater  cooperation  and  collaboration  on  communicating  Europe 
between  the  EU  institutions  and  bodies  and  the  Member  States.  The  Commission  will 
therefore  seek  to  strengthen  partnerships  at  all  levels  around  commonly  selected  EU 
communication priorities by proposing an inter-institutional agreement (IIA). 

4.1.  Working together with the Member States 

National governments are responsible for setting the course of European policy in the Council 
and for communicating their mandates and policies to their citizens. Polling results show that 
citizens expect their national government to inform them about what the EU is doing for them 
and  how  this  affects  their  daily  lives.  More  than  two  thirds  of  European  citizens  prefer  to 
contact national services on matters decided by the EU.  

The  Commission  can,  however,  provide  valuable  support  for  all  interested  Member  States. 
The  Commission  proposes  strengthening  the  relationship  with  them  by  holding  regular 
meetings  with  the  respective  “national  communication  directors”  of  each  Member  State  in 
order to identify major communication priorities, to ensure monitoring of the communication 
process  and  to  exchange  information  on  communication  activities34.  The  Commission  also 
seeks  to  develop  management  partnerships  with  interested  Member  States.  This  kind  of 
partnership, framing the cooperation between Commission, Parliament and Member State in 
an  individually  tailored  way,  has  already  proved  successful  in  Germany,  and  partnerships 
have  been  agreed  in  Hungary  and  Slovenia.  Negotiations  are  under  way  with  several  other 
Member States which have formally requested them35. These partnerships could serve as an 

33 
34 

35 

COM(2002) 704. 
The  existing  network  between  Member  States  and  EU  institutions  (EU-Infonet)  will  be  developed  to 
meet this objective.  
Austria, Belgium, France, Italy, Latvia, Portugal and Poland. 

EN 

13 

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instrument  for  carrying  out  joint  activities  on  selected  communication  priorities  at  central, 
regional and local levels. 

Management  partnerships  will  enhance  the  coordination  of  communication  activities  on 
selected  communication  priorities  based  on  joint  communication  plans36.  These  plans  are 
negotiated  at  political  level  between  the  Commission,  the  European  Parliament  and  the 
respective  Member  States’  authorities  mandated  to  deal  with  communication  issues.  Thus 
communication  activities  under  the  joint  communication  plan  are  politically  inclusive  and 
ensure the representation of diverse views when debating European issues. Consequently, this 
cooperation will help to adapt communication to local circumstances and to link it to national 
political  agendas  (such  as  elections,  major  national  events,  and  specific  interests). 
Responsibility for implementing management partnerships is shared by the Commission and 
the  respective  Member  State’s  authorities.  While  the  Commission  provides  funding,  human 
resources and infrastructure are provided by the Member State37. 

A  good  example  is  the  ongoing  management  partnership  with  the  German  federal 
government.  It  is  considered  to  be  a  valuable  tool  for  implementing  ideas  shared  by  the 
Member State and the European institutions. Since 2005, a dozen major initiatives have been 
taken and have demonstrated how close cooperation of this kind can work successfully38. 

Regional  and  local  authorities,  individually  or  organised  in  associations,  can  play  a  crucial 
role  in  promoting  communication  on  Europe.  Communication  has  to  be  attuned  to  ways  of 
showing  the  local  relevance  of  EU  decisions  and  policies39.  In  cooperation  with  the 
Committee of the Regions, the Commission will ensure that relevant information is available 
to  these  authorities  and  that  appropriate  mechanisms  are  set  up  to  retrieve  their  ideas  and 
suggestions  to  improve  communication  on  Europe  at  local  and  regional  level.  Regional  and 
local action could also be included in management partnerships, in parallel with the activities 
undertaken already on the basis of strategic partnerships (separate, complementary financing 
of projects). In addition to the work of Representations, the Europe Direct relays and the EU 
agencies in this area40, the Commission will develop closer links with those of the 250 offices 
representing regional and local authorities in Brussels willing to participate. 

36 

37 

38 

39 

40 

Alternative  types  of  partnership  with  the  Commission  may  also  be  offered  to  Member  States  - 
COM(2004) 196. 
Management partnerships do not prevent the Commission from continuing or setting up other forms of 
communication  partnership,  such  as  strategic  partnerships  or  ad  hoc  agreements.  These  are  highly 
flexible instruments and have proven their value in specific areas such as the introduction of the euro. 
The nationwide information tour “Europe turns 50 — 50 cities are having a party” in Germany and the 
“Training  seminars  for  editors  of  high  school  magazines”  aimed  at  reporting  on  EU  affairs  in  high 
school  magazines  are  but  two  examples  of  successful  projects  implemented  through  a  management 
partnership. 
The Scottish experience with the North Sea Regional Advisory Council, through which sections of the 
population  directly  affected  by  fisheries  policy  are  directly  consulted,  as  they  are  in  other  Regional 
Advisory Councils set up under the Common Fisheries Policy, demonstrates that citizens are interested 
in subjects which have an immediate impact on their lives. 
For example, the EU-wide business support network to be launched early 2008. 

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14 

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4.2.  Working together with the European institutions 

The Inter-institutional Group on Information (IGI) is the existing policy structure for agreeing 
EU  communication  strategy  and  selecting  common  communication  priorities  for  the  EU 
institutions  and  Member  States.  It  is  chaired  jointly  by  the  European  Parliament,  the 
Commission  and  the  Presidency.  Its  political  status  and  legitimacy,  however,  needs  to  be 
strengthened  and  expanded,  so  that  it  can  more  effectively  provide  guidance  for  EU 
communication priorities early enough to find synergies between the communication agendas 
of  the  EU  institutions  and  Member  States.  The  IGI’s  decisions  need  comprehensive  and 
consistent  follow-up,  both  political  and  administrative.  With  the  support  of  the  Presidency, 
the Council’s Working Party on Information will monitor the communication process. 

The European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions participate 
as observers in the IGI. Cooperation with them is also being strengthened through addendums 
on information policy to the existing protocols on cooperation arrangements. The addendums 
highlight  the  political  will  of  the  Commission  and  the  two  Committees  to  establish  a  long-
term  partnership  and  work 
information  and 
communication  with  European  citizens.  Cooperation  will  be  based  on  clearly  defined 
communication priorities for decentralised implementation at regional and local level. 

jointly  on  developing  decentralised 

4.3. 

Inter-institutional agreement on communication 

To  provide  an  appropriate  framework  for  better  cooperation  on  the  EU  communication 
process,  while  respecting  the  autonomy  of  the  EU  institutions  and  Member  States,  the 
Commission is proposing an inter-institutional agreement (IIA) with the European Parliament 
and the Council. All other EU institutions and bodies are invited to support the Commission, 
the European Parliament and the Council in this task. The aim of such an inter-institutional 
agreement is to achieve a convergence of views on the main communication priorities of the 
European Union as a whole; to identify the added value of an EU approach to communication 
on  specific  priority  issues;  to  develop  synergies  concerning  the  resources  used  by  each 
institution; to carry out activities related to these priorities; and to encourage Member States 
to  cooperate.  This  does  not  prevent  each  EU  institution  from  having  separate,  institution-
specific communication activities geared to its specific role and to its stakeholders. 

The  Commission  recognises  the  role  of  each  Member  State  in  communicating  Europe  on  a 
national,  regional  and  local  level,  in  the  official  language(s).  The  IIA  will  anchor  the  EU 
institutions’ and Member States’ political commitment to taking responsibility for informing 
and  communicating  with  citizens  on  EU  matters.  Furthermore,  this  political  agreement  will 
highlight the main principles and rights to be upheld in communicating Europe and will set 
out arrangements for cooperation between partners, ensuring proper monitoring and political 
accountability.  The  principles  of  inclusiveness,  pluralism  and  participation  should  form  the 
basis of any action to communicate Europe. The IIA will secure a common annual work plan 
setting  EU  communication  priorities,  to  be  drafted  by  the  Commission  —  based  on 
discussions  on  the  communication  priorities  presented  in  the  APS  —  for  submission  to  the 
other EU institutions and consultative bodies.  

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5. 

CONCLUSIONS 

The  Commission  will  marshal  all  its  resources  to  achieve  effective  and  integrated 
communication. 

In particular, the Commission is proposing: 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

an inter-institutional agreement to provide a framework for better cooperation on the 
EU  communication  process,  while  respecting  the  autonomy  of  EU  institutions  and 
Member States, 

voluntary  management  partnerships  with  Member  States  as  the  main  instrument  of 
joint communication initiatives, 

development of the network of European Public Spaces in the Representations, 

identification  of  aspects  of  school  education  where  joint  action  at  EU  level  could 
support Member States, 

strengthening the Eurobarometer, 

implementation of the Pilot Information Networks (PINs) to improve communication 
between European and national politicians,and with other opinion formers. 

The Commission will, in the coming months, also: 

– 

– 

– 

– 

adopt a new internet strategy to support civil society networks and private or public 
sector websites with an EU focus which promote contact with or between European 
citizens, 

adopt a new audiovisual strategy to support networks of broadcasters across Europe 
in producing and broadcasting EU affairs programmes, 

launch  a  follow-up  communication  to  Plan  D,  as  well  as  a  new  set  of  Plan  D  civil 
society projects, with the overall objective of supporting the ratification process for 
the  Reform  Treaty  and  increasing  participation  in  the  2009  European  Parliament 
elections, 

examine the possible consolidation and extension of recent successful experiences in 
reinforcing the work of the Representations. 

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Budgetary Impact statement 

POLICY AREA : TITLE 16 - COMMUNICATION 
ACTIVITIES: ALL THE ACTIVITIES OF THE POLICY AREA 

COMMUNICATION ON COMMUNICATING EUROPE IN PARTNERSHIP 

1. 

BUDGET LINES (ACCORDING TO PDB 2008 NOMENCLATURE)  

1.1. Operational lines 

16 02 02 

Multimedia actions 

16 02 03 

Information for the media 

16 02 04 
equipment 

Operation  of  radio  and  television  studios  and  audiovisual 

16 03 01 

Information outlets 

16 03 02 

Local actions 

16 03 04 

Specific actions on priority themes, of which PRINCE 

16 03 06 

Pilot project on pilot information networks (PINs) 

16 04 01 

Public opinion analysis 

16 04 02 

Online information and communication tools 

16 04 03 

Targeted written publications 

1.2. Related technical and administrative assistance line  

16 01 04 01  Communication  actions  —  Expenditure  on  administrative 
management 

2. 

LEGAL BASIS 

Tasks resulting  from the Commission's  prerogatives  at  institutional  level, as  provided for in 
Article  49(6)  of  Council  Regulation  (EC,  Euratom)  No  1605/2002  of  25  June  2002  on  the 
Financial  Regulation  applicable  to  the  general  budget  of  the  European  Communities  (OJ  L 
248, 16.9.2002, p. 1), as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1995/2006 (OJ L 390, 30.12.2006, 
p. 1). 

EN 

17 

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3. 

BUDGETARY CHARACTERISTICS  

Budget line 

Type of 
expenditure 

New 

EFTA 
contribution 

Contributions 
from applicant 
countries 

Heading in 
financial 
framework 

16 01 04 01 

Communication 
actions — 
Expenditure on 
administrative 
management 

16 02 04 

Operation of 
radio and 
television studios 
and audiovisual 
equipment 

16 02 02 to 
16 04 03 
(except 16 02 04) 

Operational 
budget lines of 
DG COMM 

Non 
comp 

Non-
diff 

NO 

NO 

NO 

No [3b] 

Non 
comp 

Non-
comp 

Diff 

NO 

NO 

NO 

No [5] 

Diff 

NO 

NO 

NO 

No [3b] 

4. 

ESTIMATES  OF  THE  FINANCIAL  IMPACT  BY  MAIN  OBJECTIVE  AND 
OUTPUT 

As far as the resources are concerned, the consequences of this communication remain within 
the  framework  of  the  multi-annual  financial  programming,  as  established  in  the  documents 
SEC(2007) 500 and SEC(2007) 530. 

3.1. Summary of financial resources 

See Table 1 in annex. 

3.2 Detailed estimates of the financial impact of the main actions 

See Table 2 in annex. 

5. 

ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE - SPECIFIC NEED 

The  needs  for  human  and  administrative  resources  shall  be  covered  within  the  allocation 
granted to the managing DG in the framework of the annual allocation procedure. 

The  pilot  project  putting  additional  communication  staff  into  eleven  of  the  Commission's 
Representations in the Member States and four regional offices has enabled a step change in 
the number and quality of activities designed to promote a European debate  within  national 

EN 

18 

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political  cultures.  The  Commission  attaches  importance  to  building  on  this  successful 
experience, and, subject to the result of the current evaluation of all ongoing communication 
activities, will consider consolidating and extending it. 

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19 

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ANNEX 

Table 1 

Line

Heading

BUDG 2007

PDB 2008

Financial programming

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

16 01

Administrative expenditure of ‘Communication‚ policy area

16 01 04 01

Communication actions — Expenditure on administrative management

3,865

3,865

3,600

3,600

3,987

3,987

4,065

4,065

4,145

4,145

4,225

4,225

4,306

4,306

16 02

16 02 02
16 02 03
16 02 04

16 03

16 03 01
16 03 02
16 03 04
16 03 05
16 03 06

16 04

16 04 01
16 04 02
16 04 03

Communication and the media

27,720

30,882

32,380

32,881

33,390

33,902

34,420

Multimedia actions
Information for the media
Operation of radio and television studios and audiovisual equipment (heading 5)

Going Local‚ communication

Information outlets
Local actions
Specific actions on priority themes, of which PRINCE
EuroGlobe
Pilot project on pilot information networks (PINs)

Analysis and communication tools

Public opinion analysis
On-line information and communication tools
Targeted written publications

18,750
3,370
5,600

20,700
3,970
6,212

21,380
4,100
6,900

21,800
4,181
6,900

22,227
4,263
6,900

22,657
4,345
6,900

23,091
4,429
6,900

39,514

38,530

39,555

40,314

41,085

41,859

42,642

15,300
10,400
12,830

15,802
10,502
13,251

16,113
10,689
13,512

16,429
10,879
13,777

16,746
11,070
14,043

17,067
11,263
14,312

16,753
8,393
7,868
1,500
5,000

21,830

21,830

21,546

21,990

22,441

22,894

23,352

5,600
10,180
6,050

5,800
10,880
5,150

5,990
11,237
4,319

6,108
11,458
4,424

6,228
11,683
4,530

6,348
11,909
4,637

6,470
12,137
4,745

16

Communication (heading 3b)

87,328

88,630

90,568

92,350

94,161

95,980

97,820

EN 

20 

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Headings of Objectives, Action categories 
and outputs

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s

f
o

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p
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e
r
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2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

t
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s
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N

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.
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T

Commitment appropriations in EUR million (to 3 decimal places)

Table 2 (page 1 / 2) 

OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVE No. 1

EMPOWERING CITIZENS 

For Plan D : an amount of 2,1 mio € is allocated in 2007 and 3 mio € are foreseen (for the third wave) in PDB 2008 in the budget line 16 03 04 covering "specific actins on priority themes" 

Action category 1: GOING LOCAL 

Output 1 :  Representations

continuing

16 03 02

additional local 
actions

0,040 

11

0,440

15

0,600

20

0,800

25

1,000

27

1,080

27

1,080

27

1,080

Output 2 : Europe direct relays

expanding 
(mainly from 
2009)

16 03 01

new grants for relays 
from 2009

extra 
0,025 per 
relay

30 new 
relays in 
RO/BU

pm

New call, 
increased 
grants,~ 490 
relays 

1,470

1,470

1,470

1,470

1,470

Output 3 : visits of Commissioners to 
regions

ongoing

16 03 02

support for organising 
meetings with regional 
media

0,003 

27

0,081

27

0,081

Output 4 : seminars for journalists

continuing

16 02 03

additional seminars

0,020 

Output 5 : network of European public 
spaces 

new from 
2007/2008

16 03 02

Fitting out new  
premises + events 
(with redeployed 
means)

0,050 

6

3

0,120

0,150

Action category 2: ACTIVE EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP

Output 1 : Visits of schools and other 
groups organised by representations and 
relays, and Commission officers to visit 
their former schools

existing 

160.302

specific local ctions     
(w/ presidencies)

0,040 

2

0,080

6

3

2

27

10

20

0,081

27

0,081

27

0,081

27

0,081

27

0,081

0,200

10

0,200

15

0,300

18

0,360

18

0,360

1,000

27

1,350

27

1,350

27

1,350

27

1,350

0,120

0,150

0,080

2

0,080

2

0,080

2

0,080

2

0,080

2

0,080

EN 

21 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table 2 (page 2 / 2) 

OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVE No. 2 

DEVELOPING A EUROPEAN PUBLIC SPHERE 

Action category 1: THE POLITICAL DIMENSION

Output 1 : Pilot Information Networks 

from 2007

16 03 06

Web site for PINs

4,000 

Meetings

0,100 

1

10

4,000

1,000

Action category 2: THE MEDIA AND INFORMATION SERVICES

Output 1 : programmes on EU affairs 
produced and broadcasted by network of 
broadcasters

ongoing

16 02 02

radio and/or TV 
networks

between 
5,5 and 8

1

5,500

1

Output 2 : increased capacity of EbS - 
more diverse material available

new

16 02 03

Production vidéo

16 02 04

technical 
developments + new 
EbS from 2009

Output 3 :improved Europa web site

ongoing

16 04 02

ongoing

16 04 02

new search engine put 
in place
new "flexible 
platform"

0,300 

0,300 

ongoing

16 04 02

Evaluation Europa

0,300 

1

1

1

0,300

0,300

0,300

Output 4 : network of private and public 
web sites with European content

new

16 04 02

Grants forwebsites 
with EU content

0,010 

1

8,000

1

8,000

1

8,000

1

8,000

1

8,000

0,600

1,300

0,600

1,300

0,600

1,300

0,600

1,300

6,000

1,300

8,000

0,600

0,612

pm

pm

pm

20

0,200

20

0,200

20

0,200

20

0,200

20

0,200

20

0,200

Action category 3: LISTENING AND RESPONDING

Output 1 : A network of independant 
experts on public opinion

new

16 01 04

Meetings of 15 
experts

0,015 

1

0,015

2

0,030

2

0,030

2

0,030

2

0,030

2

0,030

2

0,030

OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVE No. N 3

REINFORCING A PARTNERSHIP APPROACH

Action category 1: WORKING TOGETHER WITH MEMBER STATES

Output 2 : Partnerships with member states ongoing

16 03 04

management 
partnerships (with 
redeployed means) 

between 
0,1 and 
0,7

4

1,400

10

3,950

15

5,250

20

7,000

24

8,400

27

9,450

27

9,450

TOTAL COST

13,686

(*)

14,423

(*)

19,011

21,311

22,891

24,001

29,401

(*) The totals for 2007 become 15,786 mio € in 2007 and 17,423 mio €  in 2008 when considering the amounts for Plan D (see indication under operational objective No.1) 

EN 

22 

EN