2.1 Network Council Meeting, 23-24 May 2006, Vienna (Austria)

Lars Josephsen, Roskilde University (Denmark)

The meeting

The second meeting of the Network Council took place in Vienna 22-23 May 2006. Its purpose was to evaluate the first 6 months of the CINEFOGO Network and to discuss a first draft for the detailed programme of activities for the next 18 month programme of the Network. About twenty-five CINEFOGO participants attended the meeting.

Presentations of actual work

As introduction to the meeting, three national coordinators presented their work in order to provide the Council with insight into the work of colleagues: Z. Kolaric (Slovenia), F. Wijkström (Sweden) and J. Lewis (United Kingdom) spoke about civil society, citizenship and their national activities.

Progress and reporting

The international coordinator of the Network, T. Boje, expressed satisfaction with the rate of implementation of the first 6-8 months of functioning of the Network. However, he also cautioned that the activities must be implemented on time and in accordance with the schedule. All involved should submit their respective activity and financial reports in due time, so that the CINEFOGO secretariat can submit the first annual report to the Commission by 1 October.

Thematic areas and work packages

The Council discussed the report on the Status of Work Packages (WP) in tandem with the Thematic Areas (TA) in order to become acquainted with WP developments. As concerns the work on the PhD network (WP 21) and support towards PhD students (WP 22): It became clear that CINEFOGO support to PhD network should continue, collaboration could be further improved, and a broad-based and simple resource data base should be developed. The Council concluded that most of the WPs are carried out in timely manner. Those responsible for delayed WPs should settle this with the CINEFOGO secretariat as soon as possible.

Future endeavours - Second period of 18 months

The draft proposal for the second 18 month period of the CINEFOGO Network was examined. T. Boje stressed the importance of actively including all members of the CINEFOGO Network in this second period. Those responsible for WPs should involve other members in the WP proposals. T Boje explained that publications should not be budgeted in the WP proposals as funds have already been reserved for publications.

CINEFOGO profile in relation to Spread of Excellence

Before entering into the debate regarding the concrete proposals, the issue was raised about sharpening the profile of the CINEFOGO Network in relation to Spread of Excellence and creating linkages between research and policy-making. In conclusion: SoE has to do with policy-makers at national, regional and European levels, SoE should be strengthened by inviting policy-makers to WP activities and by organizing a one-day event in Brussels for special dialogue with EU employees and others. It was agreed that the National Coordinators should be more aware of SoE in their activities.

Work package proposals

T. Boje presented a list of possible themes and related work package proposals, submitted by members of the Network. This material was debated. One conclusion was that more emphasis should be given to linking work packages to the three Thematic Areas (i.e. 'Identities, Values and Civic Cultures in Europe', 'Citizenship and Civic Participation in relation to Social Exclusion' and 'Multi-level Governance and Organized Civil Society'). These should be maintained while more attention also should be paid to the concept of 'European Citizenship'. Finally it was agreed that efforts should be made to link CINEFOGO to the two international organisations EMES and ISTR (cf. boxes below).

Other issues on the agenda

• The literature reviews received were introduced by T. Boje, and three cases were presented by A. Kovalainen (Finland), S. Kovacheva (Bulgaria), and E. Bozzini (Italy). The debate addressed civil society, role of churches, volunteering, social capital, etc.
• Mr. Giovanni Moro (Italy), President of FONDACA presented the 'Active Citizenship Network' and outlined the main ideas of the 'European Charter of Active Citizenship' (cf. box after section 8).
• C. Holtet from the Danish Broadcasting Corporation, a partner in the CINEFOGO Network, outlined the status of production of TV programmes 'Active Citizenship and the Development of European Democracy' (WP 5). This activity is developed as collaboration between 10 European broadcasting corporations.
• M. Potůček (Czech Republic) reminded the Council of the Programme of Spread of Excellence and the TRANSAACT principles, and he underlined the necessity of every WP responsible being aware of SoE aspects in relation to their actual WP. The debate addressed the notions of 'public space' and 'public sphere'.
• The Newsletter was briefly introduced by L. Josephsen (Denmark), who also mentioned the approach to link brief articles in the Newsletter to more comprehensive documents placed at the CINEFOGO website.
• Concerning the PhD student network it was recognized that there was a need for special site for information about activities, events, summer schools, etc.
• It was decided to address directly the concept of 'European Citizenship' by organizing a conference in June 2007 in Roskilde (Denmark) in connection with the next Network Council meeting.

Read more

• Minutes of the Network Council meeting