Developments in European information issues: Networks and relays – Services – Products, August 1999

New Commission changes

Details of the proposed new Commission to be led by President Romano Prodi are now available on the web at http://europa.eu.int/comm/newcomm/index_en.htm/. The pages include profiles of the Commissioners put forward by the Member States, their portfolios, speeches by Mr Prodi, new rules for how the Commission is to function and a timetable for appointment. The European Parliament will hold hearings at the beginning of September and vote on 15 September in its plenary session. Current information will no doubt be posted on the European Parliament site at http://www.europarl.eu.int/ at that date. A press release outlines the proposed plans for reform and reorganisation of the Commission, which include the abolition of the numbering of the Directorates General 'in favour of short, understandable names that reflect each department's main area of responsibility'. This presents a nightmare scenario of mass revision of urls, changing links and updating bookmarks. As far as changes in responsibilities are concerned, the old DG X (Information, Communication, Culture, Audiovisual) will be split, with media and communication becoming the direct responsibility of the President while other areas will fall within the remit of the Commissioner for Education and Culture, Viviane Reding. This will include Citizen's Europe, EUR-OP, and the Commission Libraries (with presumably also European Documentation Centres - though perhaps one ought not to presume anything in the new scheme of things?). The databases CELEX, ECLAS, EUDOR, EUR-Lex and SCAD will fit in here while RAPID, developed by the Spokesman's Service, will go with the Media and Communication Service. Precise details of the new arrangements remain to be resolved so it is very much a case of 'Watch this space!'