The Third INFORM Network Meeting Took Place in Brussels

The third “INFORM” Network meeting took place with regard to the information and publicity activities under the interventions co-financed by the Structural Funds and fostered by the European Commission Direction General for Regional Policy, so as to encourage the sharing of experiences among the 27 member states. Formez has participated in the network in the person of one of its experts.
During the morning session on June 15, the core group members, namely the Heads of the Information and Publicity networks at national level, met and discussed the following themes: Cooperation with the European Commission Representations in single member states and with the  Europe Direct network; strengthened cooperation between the European Social Fund, the European Fund for Regional Development and the Cohesion Fund. Furthermore, proposals and ideas for the organization of the subsequent open days were collected.
The afternoon session which was opened to the voluntary group members, commenced with an introductory speech by Raphael Goulet, Head of the Division “Communication, Information and Relations with Third Countries” of the Direction General for Regional Policy who presented the agenda regarding the two one-day meetings and outlined the proposals on simplification of the Commission Regulation 1828/2006. Afterwards, Elisa Roller from the European Commission held a presentation of the report on “assessment of the European regional policy through the media from single member states” which was drafted by Technopolis Group on behalf of DG Regio. The objective of the study was to analyse the enactment of the regional media policy (press, national TV and audiovisual media, etc.) in the 27 member states in the period ranging from the end of October 2008 to the end of January 2009.
Addresses regarding the communication campaigns implemented in the various member states followed up. With reference to Italy, a communication campaign of the Molise Region was introduced; the region utilized sport associations to promote the results pursued throughout the 2000-2006 planning period as well as the Emilia Romagna Region communication campaign in close collaboration with the Europe Direct network. Two interventions by the United Kingdom and Hungary were held on Structural Fund communication under the economic crisis.
On June 16, the meeting continued with the presentation of two other key topics, namely Information and Communication technologies and web sites; good practices in online communications. The afternoon session was dedicated to the organization of three work groups on the following: New technologies, speaking through the projects; online activities.
The results achieved by each work group were outlined during the plenary session.