Dear all, 

The New European Commission
Over the last few days I have received information from both EUCLID, the
cultural contact point for EU funding programmes, and the International
Arts Bureau (IAB) on the changes happening at the European Commission.

EUCLID informs us in the latest eureka! Briefing  that the European
Commission is being re-organised.  All the changes can be found on the
European Commission's website: 
http://europa.eu.int/comm/newcomm/organisation/index_en.htm which lists
the responsibilities of the new Commissioners and their biographies.

Of particular interest to museums are:

*	Erkki Liikanen (Finland), Commissioner for Enterprise and
Information Socitey
*	Philippe Busquin (Belgium), Commissioner for Research
*	Michel Barnier (France), Commissioner for Regional Policy
*	Viviane Reding (Luxembourg), Commissioner for Education and
Culture

The timetable at the moment is that the new Commissioners are appointed
on 16 September and hold their first meeting on 22 September.

We know from IAB that Viviane Reding's cabinet advisers will be led by
Gregory Paulger (currently Head of the Unit in DGX responsible for
regulatory framework and international relations).  The assistant Head
is Viviane Hoffman, a Commission official from Luxembourg.  The new DG
will consist of :

*	the existing DGXXII
*	Parts of DGX 

The Commission has said, ` Responsiblity for educations and culture is
grouped under a single Commissioner.  Education and culture are
important aread of activity for the Commission because they constitute a
real point of contact with the citizens, affecting them on a daily
basis.  This reorganisation reflects, therefore, the need for the
Commission to become closer to the citizens.  By combining
responsibility for these two related areas in a new Directorate-General,
including a number of activities from the existing DG for Communications
which constitute a point of contact with citizens, the Commission's
activities will be given greater focus'.

Information Technology Information Day
On another point, UKISHELP, the National Contact Point for Information
Society Programmes, have announced that they are holding a day of
briefing, consultation, and advice to promote UK participation in the
second call for proposals of the European Commission's Information
Society Technologies (IST) Programme. It will provide the opportunity
for paticipants to find out about the rules of participation, the type
of projects that are likely to get funding and time for questions and
answers.

The EC will be allocating around EURO 400 million to this call which
opens on 15 September.  

It costs £120 including VAT to attend the day which is on Thursday 30
September at New Century House, Manchester.  For further information
contact the organisers: Glasgows, Customs House, Customs Way, Off
Riversway, Preston PR2 2UW.  Tel: 01772-881066.  Fax: 01772-885777.
Email: [log in to unmask]  Or you can look on UKISHELP's website
www.ukishelp.co.uk.

Henrietta Hopkins
Museum Development Officer (International links, tourism & visitor
services)
Musums & Galleries Commission, 16 Queen Anne's Gate,London SW1H 9AA
Tel: 0171-233 4200, Fax: 0171-233 3686, e-mail [log in to unmask]

MGC website: www.museums.gov.uk


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