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Euro-communication towards officials. Geert Temmerman National Bank of Belgium. September 2007. Content. Generalities Communication towards private sector Communication within authorities. Preliminary remark:. Communication campaign started already in 1996 Two climaxes: January 1, 1999
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Euro-communication towards officials Geert Temmerman National Bank of Belgium September 2007
Content • Generalities • Communication towards private sector • Communication within authorities
Preliminary remark: • Communication campaign started already in 1996 • Two climaxes: • January 1, 1999 • January 1, 2002
In Belgium • Coordinated approach from the outset via General Commission for the euro • Authorities, financial institutions, trade unions, professional associations, press, ... • Everybody aware of necessity to organise good information • Special attention for weaker social groups
General Commission for the euro 4 central working parties with dozens of working parties COM EURO COM ECO EURO ADMI EURO FIN EURO - legislation - accounting, budgetting, - processes and IT in administrations - training & communication - local administrations - social security - financial markets (1999) - cash (2002) - non-cash transactions - prudential supervision - consumers - companies, business .. - insurance companies - communication to "weaker social groups" - communication Specific working parties - conversion and rounding - contingency plan cash- changeover
General Commission for the euro • 1997 - 2002 • Coordinator, catalyser, stimulator • Detecting lacks, avoiding waste • Supplying guaranteed information(e.g. periodical journals to inform information managers) • in charge of official website www.euro.be • going trough and/or approving publications by others
Communication towards private sector by authorities other than central bank • 1997 - 2002 • Main topics: • why single currency? rational of EMU • conversion rate • continuity of prices • reference values • changeover scenario • legal aspects
Communication towards private sector by authorities other than central bank • Several target groups • other authorities, subordinated authorities, officials • private sector social security institutions • weaker groups • professional groups with special needs • and of course: the general public!
Communication towards private sector by central bank • Main focus: cash • ECB and NCBs: information campaign "Euro 2002" • Target groups: general public, SMEs, weaker social groups, schools
Communication by General Commission for the euro • Periodical journal of General Commission (twice a year) • Series of brochures with official texts, guidelines, recommendations, etc. all having the same appearance • Hundreds of exposés by staff members of General Commission for all kinds of audiences
Communication by General Commission for the euro • Excellent relations with press and media; staff ready to help journalists willing to write on the change-over • Website www.euro.be
Communication and mobilisation within authorities • Communication to officials was permanent concern within ADMI EURO • (point of particular interest of first chairman of ADMI EURO) • Technical working party (out of the 4) on training and communication
Communication and mobilisation within authorities • General Commission for the euro and Federal Public Information Agency intensely involved • Also involved: communication offices of European Parliament and European Commission in Belgium • Remember: officials are also consumers and got the general information everybody got
Communication and mobilisation within authorities • 1997 kick-off: kind of Euro-show for several hundreds of officials from all ministries • Organised by Ministry of Finance • Exposés alternating with playful sketches played by actors • Most training was organised within departments • Training culminating to the running up to January 1, 2002
Communication and mobilisation within authorities • Bulletin ADMI EURO: • Periodical for officials of all authorities involved in change-over • Edited by Ministry of Finance • 8 issues: • 1st: January 1997 / 8th: May 2001 • 8 to 12 pages each • Also available for everybody on www.euro.be
Communication and mobilisation within authorities • Publications by technical working parties • Several very detailed guidelines for public authorities' IT-people • Guidelines on the presentation of the budget, on accounting, ... • Several guidelines (e.g. social affairs) published as part of the series of brochures of the General Commission
Communication and mobilisation within authorities • Publications by Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Social Affairs and Ministry of Economic Affairs towards general public were also utmost interesting material for officials involved in change-over in these and other departments
Communication and mobilisation within authorities • Generally spoken, officials seemed quite enthusiastic about the project • Job of officials made easier by: • Broad acceptance of euro by public • Awareness of importance of project in all sections of society (authorities, professional associations, trade unions, ...) • Excellent spirit of cooperation within authorities; no competition (material put at the disposal of others without reticence)
copy of website www.euro.be available on CD-rom