Dear Colleagues
The keywords in European information and communication strategy in
2001 are:
- to inform better
- to explain better
- involvement
- participation ( to shape / consult / implement)
- Stakeholder - Civil Society
- Governance
- Decentralisation
- Interactive policymaking
- Interinstitutional co-operation
- Externalisation
- Emphasis on electronic dissemination
Between these fine words however, there are still a lot of questions
as to the effectiveness of aspects of the information and
communication strategy.
Each year the European Information Association (EIA) and European
Institute of Public Administration (EIPA) organise a conference in
November to look at current issues relating to European information.
The objective is to help those of us working on a day-to-day basis
with European information to improve our knowledge, discuss new
developments and look to the future. The conference discusses
practical issues which will help us provide better services to our
users and clients. This year the conference takes place 19-20
November 2001 in Maastricht and has presentations covering all the
above key themes - and more.
We finalise the programme as late as possible to ensure that the
subjects we discuss are really the most relevant and forward-looking,
and where you will hear, hopefully, of new developments. We also
allow plenty of time for discussion between speakers and
participants.
In 2001 we look at the information implications of the White Paper on
European Governance + plus the Communications on a framework for
information and communication policy and 2nd Generation Europa. We
look at the official information campaign for the introduction of
the Euro on 1 January 2002 and the information policy of NATO, which
is so much in the news at present.
In addition, we have presentations on the following specific topics:
- the new TECIS helpdesk which started in September 2001 to help some
of the DG Press and Communication relays (an example of
externalisation).
- the European Parliament (and the European Commission) must
establish a Register of Documents by June 2002. We look at progress
by the European Parliament (and have a possibility to influence the
final nature of the Register)
- the new CONECCS database (and the wider efforts by the European
Commission to link with civil society)
- the role of stakeholders in European information, with
contributions from business and consumer/citizen interests)
- how EUROPA is to develop in the future, in terms of information
dissemination, assisting interactive policymaking (IPM) and
developing EC transactional activities
- the future development of EUR-LEX, the EU law portal.
If you would like further details look at either the EIA or EIPA
websites:
http://www.eipa.nl/activities/01/0111101_1911/invitation.htm
or
http://www.eia.org.uk/progkeep01.htm
Best wishes
Ian
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Ian Thomson Tel: 44-(0)29-2087-4262
European Documentation Centre Fax: 44-(0)29-2022-9740
Cardiff University E-Mail: [log in to unmask]
PO Box 430
Cardiff CF10 3XT
United Kingdom
Manager, European Documentation Centre, Cardiff University
Information Consultant, Wales Euro Info Centre (WEIC)
Editor, European Access / European Access Plus
[ http://www.europeanaccess.co.uk ]
Executive Editor: Know Europe
[ http://www.knoweurope.net ]
President, European Information Association
Creator of `Europe on the Internet':
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