Europa-Tag - Referat für Arbeit und Wirtschaft

Information and education:
Cultivating an awareness of Europe
Surveys confi rm that few people really know how
European politics impacts their daily lives. The Europe
Direct Information Center (EDI) for Munich and Upper
Bavaria is the city’s fi rst port of call for matters pertaining
to Europe.
In light of the current euro crisis, the European Union has
reached a critical phase. Increasingly, public debate is even
casting doubt on the whole subject of European integration.
Information and education are, therefore, more important
than ever. Many people are also keen to know where
they can choose to live and work in Europe, whether they
can still draw their pension if they do move and where their
insurance remains valid. The EDI is part of an EU-wide
network of around 500 offi ces. It organizes focused events,
supplies a broad spectrum of information materials and
answers all kinds of questions about Europe in an attempt
to fuel fruitful debate.
Some of the most topical and important issues addressed
in 2011 included work-related mobility, the possibility of
applying for EU subsidies, questions of law, information
about the Treaty of Lisbon, the political education of teachers
and support for scientifi c work at schools and universities.
Europe on the City of
Munich web portal
The EDI also presented an exhibition of caricatures under
the heading “Euro-Spott” (“Spott” is the German word for
irony or scorn). From the funny to the frustrating, European
cartoonists – including Munich’s own Dieter Hanitzsch –
provided an incisively witty insight into all things regarding
the euro from the 1990s to the present day. Director of
Economic Development Dieter Reiter opened the exhibition
at the Municipal Library in Gasteig.
Political developments in Hungary, whose turn it was to
preside over the European Council for six months, attracted
considerable attention throughout Europe. Hungary’s new
media law in particular came in for close scrutiny. Michael
Frank, a journalist and Central European correspondent
for the newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung, provided a revealing
insight into these developments on invitation by the
Europe Direct Information Center.
Europe Direct Information Center
Munich & Upper Bavaria
Münchner Stadtbibliothek Am Gasteig, Ebene 1.1
Rosenheimer Straße 5
81667 München
Germany
Phone +49 (0)89 480 98 33 79
europe-direct@muenchen.de
www.muenchen.de/europe-direct
At www.muenchen.de/europa, the European Affairs
Team at the City of Munich’s Department of Labor and
Economic Development explains why its Europe-centric
activities are of importance to the city and how the
team works. The portal also features numerous links,
notice of forthcoming events and details of EU-subsidized
projects that are currently in progress in Munich.
Position papers in response to consultations with the
EU Commission and similar documents are also available
for download.
Professional communication:
The result of professional work
As a clear visual expression of the city’s intensive
commitment to European affairs, a uniform graphical
logo has been developed on the basis of the existing
Munich layout.
Its core component is the “Munich Loves You” heart fi lled
with a stylized map of Europe that is absorbing points of
light as seen from space.
Europe Day:
New concept well received
On May 6, 2011, the City of Munich unveiled a new
concept to celebrate Europe Day on the Marienplatz, in the
Prunkhof courtyard, in the Kassenhalle and in the Large
Meeting Room at City Hall. Representatives of the
EU Commission and the EU Parliament in Munich and of
Europa-Union-München e.V. acted as cooperation partners
for the event. A large number of visitors stopped by at
the information booths; and lots of children learned something
about the 27 member states of the European Union
in aplayful way. Schoolchildren worked and debated in a
“pupils’ parliament”; and a young, laid-back audience spent
the afternoon listening to music from three popular local
bands on a stage in front of City Hall. The day’s events
were rounded off with a panel discussion whose title question
– “Does our future lie with the euro?” – was answered
by experts and politicians alike with a resounding yes!
Lots of visitors eagerly took advantage of the opportunity
to gather information and talk to representatives of the
European Union. Topics such as the fi nancial crisis in
Greece, Ireland and Portugal, the stream of refugees fl owing
in from North Africa and the freedom of movement
for workers, which came into force on May 1, 2011, were
raised again and again in the course of Europe Day.
Save the date: In 2012, Europe Day will be celebrated on
May 11 at City Hall, in the Prunkhof and on the Marienplatz.
Updates will be published at www.muenchen.de/europa.
Europa-Tag
In Kooperation mit:
EUROPÄISCHE KOMMISSION
Regionalvertretung in München
Strategy Annual Report on European Activities 2011 19
The wording “Europe connects” is mirrored visually on
the cover picture of this year’s Annual Report on European
Activities, for example, which shows Munich refl ected in
the Atomium in Brussels. German and English versions of
the logo are available, as is the case for most publications
and a wealth of relevant information.
Internally, European matters are communicated fi rst and
foremost via a dedicated newsletter and a separate intranet
site. Externally, the website (see box) is complemented by
a variety of events and publications for residents of Munich.
Press relations is the more diffi cult aspect of the work, as
local media still tend to see Europe as a topic that is hard to
communicate and has few regional touchpoints. One challenge
is therefore to use practical examples to more clearly
illustrate the infl uence that Europe has on Munich. After
all, the EU ultimately has a direct impact on many aspects
of life in Munich, as this Annual Report demonstrates in no
uncertain terms.
6. Mai 2011
Marienplatz
und Rathaus
14 Uhr Tänze
15.30 – 19.30 Uhr live: JB‘s FIRST,
Nina Alverdes
G.Rag y los Hermanos Patchekos
14 – 19 Uhr Europa entdecken
14 – 19 Uhr Markt der Möglichkeiten
19 Uhr Der Euro – unsere Zukunft?
Podiumsdiskussion
www .muenchen .de / europa