To the Secretaries General

01022/C

Brussels, 29 January 2001

Dear friends,

The European Movement is pleased to invite you to participate in a working dinner [Place du Luxembourg at 19:00] on March 2 on the theme of "The European Movement in the e-Europe era" at which you will have the opportunity to discuss the European Movement’s future strategy and our new Internet project and hear our plans to secure new funding for the National Councils participating in it.

EU enlargement presents unprecedented challenges for the whole of Europe. The need for clear, simple information for the citizens of Europe has never been greater. The European Movement, as the only organisation in Europe whose core priority is promoting the European ideal amongst citizens, is uniquely placed to rise to these challenges and engage with the citizens of Europe to inform, educate and listen, using the language of ordinary people.

The continued rapid pace of technological development has created new opportunities to implement innovative information systems capable of reaching millions of people. The Web we know now is just a primitive precursor of the pervasive information future to come. The European Movement must grasp these new opportunities or be left behind and out-manoeuvred by those forces opposed to a unified Europe, who have been quick to employ the new and global techniques. That is why our Internet project plans have been significantly enhanced and the project placed at the heart of our future.

The e-Europe initiative, recognising the impact of the Internet, has created a new climate for public sector and NGO Internet projects in Europe. Existing activities have been streamlined and strengthened and funding for new Information Society activities has been increased. The key e-Europe objectives of "Bringing all Europeans into the digital age and online" and "Ensuring the process is socially inclusive" have obvious synergy with the objectives of the European Movement and the challenges of enlargement.

The Enlargement Commissioner, Mr Verheugen said "Reunifying our continent is for the EU a core strategic priority, which cannot be limited to a closed circle of negotiators, but must be widely explained to the people and supported by them". This aligns perfectly with the European Movement’s core priority. It is time for the European Movement to reposition itself and forge a new strategic partnership with the Commission.

We urge you to join us at this dinner and to join us in shaping the European Movement’s new future in the enlarging e-Europe era.

Pier Virgilio Dastoli

Secretary General