1. Community network of Regional policy communication officers
Europ’Act : the French national technical assistance program considered as a tool to communicate on European Cohesion policy, together with the ESF
2nd meeting of INFORM
Community network of Regional policy communication officers
Brussels, November 2008
Europ’Act is the National Technical assistance Program.
Its actions are financed with the support of European Union
Europe is involved in France with the European Regional Development Fund

2. Cooperation with the Commission Representations
The Commission Representation in Paris : a key role for communicating on European regional policy
A relay used for the diffusion of information booklets about the Structural funds for specific targets
Ex : guide on structural funds dedicated to the mayors, booklet about the Cohesion policy…
A partner for specific actions :
TV campaign about the everyday EU involvements with the help of ESF, ERDF and specific programs (ERASMUS, LEONARDO…)
Press meetings on specific subjects about Regional Policy, with the help of experts from Brussels (to be realized in 2009)
Together with the Information Office of the European Parliament, the CR in Paris is well informed of every communication actions on ERDF

3. Cooperation with the ESF national team : strengthening the network
Cooperation with the ESF national office on communications matters framed in a communications plan
To maximise the messages and its audience
To the mainstream :
TV Campaign,
One and only graphic chart,
Publicity kits…
To strengthen the network :
Annual communications officers seminaries
A formation session (11 days) for both ESF and ERDF communication officers conceived as a way to strengthen the network
To reduce the cost of common actions
Communicating on projects & on beneficiaries lists : a common approach, a bi-diffusion ( Fr & fse.gouv.fr)
How to improve this cooperation ? Simplify the rules for common actions on communication actions for example…

4. Making lists of beneficiaries more attractive and interactive
What is ready now : excel files for free upload
One national file with ESF and ERDF beneficiaries, for every operational programs : everybody can upload it from projetsdeurope.gouv.fr
26 regional files with ESF and ERDF regional beneficiaries : the regional managing authorities can put them on their European funds dedicated websites for free uploading and they will be on projetsdeurope.gouv.fr
1 national file with only ESF beneficiaries : to be put on fse.gouv.fr
What we want it to become : an interactive and graphic approach
The new version of the reference website on the Cohesion policy ( will include a research engine or/and an interactive map
The approach : cooperation with the regional and national ESF and ERDF communication officers

5. Presenting results of the policy in the context of the budgetary debate
The following are just propositions…
The regional policy is made of projects. Show the projects !
A common action with ESF managing authorities
Monthly reports on the consumption of European funds : a more qualitative approach
Pictures, films, news coverage :
An option that has to be evaluated : partnership with a TV program for a regular presentation
At least, it will be on websites :
Fse.gouv.fr
Projetsdeurope.gouv.fr
Regional websites (that alrady shown local projects)
The context of the budgetary debate : find the targets !
News coverage send to the national press and the political parties
Partnership with local and national political network