Coordinators of EU information network supported by the Delegation of the European Commission to Turkey will conduct a 4-day study tour to Czech Republic on 16-19 April, 2007.

Within the scope of the visits the information relays will have the opportunity to meet and exchange experiences with the similar EU information networks operating at local and national levels in the Czech Republic. Further to exchange of information, channels for cooperation will be explored.

In addition, the study tour will help increase opportunities for future cooperation between institutions operating in EU-related areas and disseminating information on the EU in the two countries.

The study tour aims at ensuring the sharing of experience on the EU membership process of the Czech Republic, which displayed a successful performance in membership negotiations and became a full member in May 2004.

The study tour will take place with the participation of the EU Information Relay Coordinators of the provinces of Gaziantep, Samsun, Antalya, Van, Kayseri, Edirne, Adana and Denizli, which represent the 7 regions of Turkey, as well as with the participation of the EU Delegation to Turkey.

Under the scope of this year’s Programme, the representatives of EU Information Relay Offices will visit the EU Representation to the Czech Republic, European Information Centre in Prague, Eurodesk, the Department for the Management of EU Funds at the Ministry of Regional Development, EuropeHouse, ANO think tank, International Relations Association, local information office Europe direct, European NGO Cafebabel and European Policies Institute.

Since two years these programmes are being organised to enhance the EU information relay offices‘ capacity to inform the public at local level. In that respect, last year the information relays participated in study tours to Poland, which was a new member state, and to Romania, which was a candidate country.

17 April 2007