september 2007 geert temmerman national bank of belgium euro-communication towards officials

September 2007

Geert TemmermanNational Bank of Belgium

Euro-communication towards officials

Content1. Generalities

2. Communication towards private sector

3. 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

4 central working parties with dozens of working parties

FIN EURO ADMI EURO

ECO EURO COM EUROCOM

General Commission for the euro

- financial

markets (1999)

- cash (2002)

- non-cash transactions

- prudential supervision

- consumers

- companies, business ..

- insurance companies

- communication to "weaker social groups"

- legislation

- accounting, budgetting,

- processes and IT in administrations

- training & communication

- local administrations

- social security

- communication

Specific working parties

- conversion and rounding

- contingency plan cash- changeover

• 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

• 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 authorities

other than central bank

• Main focus: cash

• ECB and NCBs: information campaign "Euro 2002"

• Target groups: general public, SMEs, weaker social groups, schools

Communication towards private sector by central bank

• 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


• Excellent relations with press and media; staff ready to help journalists willing to write on the change-over

• Website www.euro.be

Communication by


• 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



• 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


• 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


• 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


• 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


• 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

september 2007 geert temmerman national bank of belgium euro-communication towards officials

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