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European Conference: "Implementing Communication Plans for EU Funds"
BACKGROUND
The European Commission has published several documents that ask Member States’ administrations to strengthen their publicity requirements on Structural Funds projects in Operational Programmes. As the new publicity measures are a required part of the programmes in order to be granted approval by the Commission and thereby receive the funds allocated to the region and assist projects to succeed communication strategies will gain even greater importance in the years to come. While public servants are not usually PR experts, the new guidelines have given them an exceptional task. Developing and executing communication strategies presents itself as a challenge to public officials who usually deal with the structures and layouts of EU-Funds. If carried out as planned, the interaction between citizens and administrations will be increased and the classical leaflet will become a thing of the past. Acquiring detailed knowledge of advanced communication methods will enable participants to realise their communication strategies and handle challenges well. Getting people involved and their voices heard is absolutely crucial to the success of the programmes and the benefit of the regions. Through coherent and enhanced communications you will be better able to distribute the funds allocated to the regions if residents, businesses and initiatives know about them and are therefore more likely to submit applications. As a result the best projects may be chosen. As communications is at least a two way street, all actors involved need to cooperate to achieve their goal of serving citizens and clients.
TARGET GROUP
Heads and members of national, local and regional administrative authorities. Authorities and business associations dealing with EU-Funds, Press Departments, Spokes People. Regional agencies re-sponsible for allocating Funds and providing services to applicants. Invitations are going out to all EU Member States.
