More than 70 representatives of Spanish entities and institutions attended the briefing on the Call 2009-2012 to select Europe Direct information centres. The meeting took place on September 18th at the headquarters of the European Commission Representation in Spain, in Madrid.

The European Commission has recently launched a call for the selection of institutions and organizations which will be eligible to host public information centres, part of the “EUROPE DIRECT Network”, and receive funding and technical assistance.

In order to disseminate the conditions and requirements of the call, as well as all the elements of the procedure, the European Commission Representation in Spain hosted on September 18th a briefing session, inviting all the institutions and organizations interested in participating in this 2009-2012 call.

The delegates, among whom was Euroalert.net, had the opportunity to address all the questions they may have relating this call, as well as have the most direct and complete description of all the terms of such call. The main points which were addressed in the session were:

• Objectives of the Europe Direct Information Centres.
• Some new characteristics of the call 2009-2012.
• Documents to submit the application.
• Modular approach of the call 2009-2012.
• Calendar.

The overall objective of this call is that all citizens, from both urban and rural areas, may easily access information about all areas of EU activity, promoting a greater geographical coverage of the centres.

The total budget allocated to Spain represents 1,1M€, subject to the approval of the budget by the budgetary authority

The deadline for submission of proposals ends on September 29th, 2008 and should be sent to the following address:

Representación de la Comisión Europea en España
Sra. Marta Múgica Inciarte / Ana Río Quintana
Paseo de la Castellana, 46
28046 Madrid (Spain)

The relevant documents of the 2009-2012 call for EUROPE DIRECT Centres in Spain can be downloaded from the website of the European Commission Representation in Spain.

EUROPE DIRECT Network

EUROPE DIRECT information relays act as an interface between EU and its citizens at local level. The mission of the network is to distribute information and advice about the European Union's policies, actively promote local and regional debate about the European Union, allow the European institutions to disseminate local and regional information and give the public the opportunity to send feedback to the European Union institutions.