COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT - "EXPO 98"
COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES Brussels, i3. n. i996 COM(96) 562 final COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT "EXPO 98" wiw 'Summary In 1998, Portugal is organising in Lisbon from 22 May to 30 September an international exhibition with the theme "The Oceans, a Heritage for the Future". This will be the last international exhibition of the twentieth century and will be the first international exhibition to be organised by Portugal since it has been a member of the European Union. Participation of the Commission at World Expo '98 offers an exceptional opportunity to inform the expected 8 million visitors, both EU citizens and overseas visitors, of the role of the European Union at the end of the twentieth century. In the selected theme of the exhibition, the oceans, the European Union has much to inform about as a broad range of EU policies are closely linked to issues involving the sea. The Member States are to be represented in a grouping at the exhibition and the EU's presence will complement the national presentations. The EU's presence in Lisbon will offer a major occasion for the European institutions to inform citizens of their activities. It is proposed that the European Union participates at Expo '98 in Lisbon on the basis of the proposal described in this communication. 1. The theme of the exhibition The selected theme is "The Oceans, a Heritage for the Future". It is clear that for Europe, the oceans surrounding its coasts and regions have played an important role in its historical, cultural and economic development. The selection of the ocean theme by the Portuguese organisers is timely as 1998 marks the international year of the oceans. The organisers are expecting several major sub-themes to be illustrated as part of the overall approach, notably the integration of oceans and their resources in the process of development, the heritage of the oceans and how they have moulded our current world and what should be preserved of the oceans for future generations. Of particular interest to the organisers and to the visiting public will be the development of new policies for the world's oceans and their resources. 2. The exhibition site The site of the exhibition will cover 60 hectares of land to the east of Lisbon, some five kilometres from the centre of the city. The southern side of the site is bordered by the river Tagus and therefore presents a natural marine location which underlines the theme selected for 1998. The site also presents a major commitment to urban renewal as much of the area is a former industrial location used by the fuel and petro chemical industry. Surrounding the site is a further 310 hectares of land which is currently undergoing redevelopment and industrial and urban renewal. Much of this work has been funded by the regional and cohesion funds. At the end of Expo '98 the exhibition site will become a new exhibition centre for Lisbon and will create a new and attractive facility for the city. The participants 3. - l The organisers foresee that there will be 115-125 participating countries at World Expo '08. The number of visits has been projected at a figure of 14 million. All EU Member States have indicated officially or unofficially that they will participate in modules supplied by the organisers. 4. Participation of the Commission Since 1958, the European institutions have participated in universal and international exhibitions. Bruxelles 1958, Turin 1961, Seattle 1962, Munich 1965, Montreal 1967, Osaka 1970, Okinawa 1975, Knoxville 1982, New Orleans 1984, Tsukuba 1985, Vancouver 1986, Brisbane 1988, Genoa 1992, Seville 1992 and Taejon 1993. The international exhibitions were governed by the rules of the Bureau of International Exhibitions which is responsible for the implementation of the Convention of Paris (1928) on universal and international exhibitions. Under the rules of the Convention, official participants are invited by the government of the host country. The Commission was invited to take part at the Expo by the Portuguese Prime Minister and in this manner is considered an official participant under the terms of the Convention of Paris. In reply to this invitation President Santer indicated in his letter of 29 March 1995 that the exhibition was a priority for the Commission and gave an agreement in principle on participation, subject to the decision of the budgetary authority in the context of the 1997 and 1998 preliminary draft budgets. President Santer reiterated the Commission's commitment to participation in a further letter to the Portuguese Prime Minister on 19 July 1996. 5. Specific reasons for being in Lisbon In view of the fact that a European Union member is host of this international exhibition there is a strong case for participating in Lisbon on the grounds of Union solidarity. The theme of the exhibition, which focuses on the oceans, is of major importance for the European Union because in the geopolitical development of Europe in the past centuries the sea has played a major formative role and because of the link of a number of EU policies with this theme. Other than a general presentation on the EU today, the World Expo would provide the opportunity to present to the general public the results of such policies and initiatives as, for example: the European Action Plan for the Information Society (including MARIS Gl projects) Community Research and Technological Development (possibly including a showcase on concrete project results) maritime industry policy and industrial showcases maritime transport policy and maritime transport applications Mediterranean policy fisheries policy coastal environment and coastal regions research and development (results of the Fourth Framework Programme for RTD, emphasizing the following items: global change (including in particular EuroGOOS and ELOISE); offshore hydrocarbons; sustainable use of coastal zones (including marine technology, marine environmental issues, aquaculture. ); biodiversity and fisheries) trade and commercial exchanges law of the sea the sea in development policy innovative forms of energy saving and new forms of energy production tourism sport and culture education and training high definition television. It will also be an opportunity to present the challenges facing the EU, including the results of the IGC and progress towards the euro. 6. A pavilion for the EU Expo '98 has submitted a proposal for a pavilion for the European Union at the base of the panoramic tower which is to be located at the northern waterfront site. The construction, which projects 60 metres into the river Tagus, resembles a large sail and the pavilion of the EU would be housed at the base of the sail. The EU pavilion would be surrounded by water. At the top of the panoramic tower is a form of a basket in which a revolving restaurant would be located. The restaurant which has a capacity of 10 000 visitors a day would be independently managed and not part of the EU pavilion. The EU exhibition space at the base of the sail is air-conditioned and there are large terraces for the public to view the Tagus and the site of Expo '98. The pavilion offers the EU an exhibition space of 2 400 m2, ample storage space, offices and meeting rooms. In this manner it offers an acceptably high profile for the European Union at Expo '98 and by being close to the north pavilion which houses the modules of the Member States oilers the latter a privileged VIP lounge in an outstanding waterfront environment. Expo '98, owner of the exhibition site and thus responsible for the design and construction of the panoramic tower, foresees that the tower will be commercialised after the exhibition and hence there are no demolition costs for the European Union. The offer from the organisers of the World Expo is conditional on a payment of 2. 5 MECU to be paid by the European Union to house its exhibition in this prestigious site. In view of the importance of Expo '98 for the European Union and the advantages of housing its exhibition in a high profile pavilion (without incurring the commercial risks of exploitation after the exhibition) the Commission is favourable to this Expo '98 proposal. The pavilion will offer a showcase for the European Union in which the themes of the exhibition can be addressed using the latest information technology for example interactive systems, CD ROM technology, HDTV, video recording and of course the more classic features of exhibitions such as working models and panels. The Commission intends to use 2 400m2 space for mounting exhibitions on the European Union. Some I 400m2 of this will be devoted to a general exhibition coordinated and managed by its information service (DG X). A further 1 000m2 will be made available to other services of the Commission and to other institutions and agencies of the European Union for mounting - 3 - 1. 2. specific and temporary exhibitions on specialised technical fields relating to the different policies of the Union. The budget is estimated as follows: Staff (officials, temporary agents, auxiliaires, missions) 1. 690. 000 Ecu Overall conception for 2 400m2; Production, assembly and decoration of 1 400m2 of general exhibition; Basic provision and availability of 1 000m2 space reserved for specific exhibitions Running costs and staff for 2 400m2 Information campaign and events for 1 400m2 Contingencies for 1 400m2 Installation rights for 2 400m2 1. 000. 0Q0 Ecu 1. 000. 000 Ecu 400. 000 Ecu 100. 000 Ecu 2. 500. 000 Ecu 3. To date the European Parliament and DGs VII, VIII and XIV have confirmed their participation at a cost of 2 000 000 Ecu. The budget headings concerned are as follows: DC DGVII DGVIII DG VIII DGXIV European Parliament 1997 200 000 200 000 400000 300 000 1998 - 800 000 100 000 - Budget heading B2-704 B7-610 B7-6200 B2-110Ï 2721 Total 1. 100 000 + 900 000 = 2 000 000 Ecu Other institutions, agencies or directorates-general may propose additional financing for specific, one-off exhibitions. The total estimated cost of the action (see § 7. 2 of the financial statement) amounts, therefore, to 8 690 000 Ecu. Conclusion The Council and the Parliament are informed of the intention of the Commission to participate in the 1998 exhibition in Lisbon on the basis of the proposal put forward. Expenditure for 1997 will be covered by the appropriations in the 1997 budget. The appropriations needed for 1998 will be requested in the 1998 PDB. - 4 - FINANCIAL STATEMENT 1. TITLE OF OPERATION Participation in "World Expo 98", the Lisbon international fair 2. BUDGET HEADING Auxiliary staff Mission expenses International meetings Titles A1,A2, A4, A5: Officials and temporary staff A-l 110: A-130: A-3055: Heading 2721: Budget heading in Section I - European Parliament B2-1101 : B2-704: B7-6200: B7-610: Objective 5(a) of the Structural Funds Establishment and development of a common sustainable transport policy Environment in the developing countries Training and promotion of awareness of development issues 3. LEGAL BASIS Autonomous decision by the Commission 4. DESCRIPTION OF OPERATION 4. 1 General objectives: In March 1995 the Commission, in response to an invitation from the Portuguese Prime Minister, indicated its intention of participating in "World Expo 98", subject to the decision of the budgetary authority for the 1997 and 1998 financial years. Expo 98 is recognized by the BEI (International Exhibitions Bureau) as a specialized international exhibition. Its theme will t>e: "The oceans, a heritage for the future" and will take place in Lisbon from 22 May to 30 September 1998. It will receive about 14 million visits over that period, which should mean around 8 million visitors. Fifty-eight countries have already confirmed their participation. The Member States of the Union will be present; the last of them are currently in the process of confirming their participation. Interdepartmental coordination between the Commission's different Directorates-General has begun with a view to promoting those Commission programmes which relate to the theme of Expo 98, such as the application of the information society to the maritime sector (MARIS), innovation in maritime industries and the conservation of sea products. Parliament will also be present at the exhibition. -1 4. 2 Period covered: Expo 98 will be held in Lisbon from 22 May to 30 September 1998. The design studies will begin in 1997 and the project will finish at the end of 1998. 5. CLASSFICATION OF EXPENDITURE 5. 1 NCE 5. 2 DA + NDA 6. TYPE OF EXPENDITURE Grants for joint funding with other public or private sources and service contracts 7. FINANCIAL IMPACT 7. / Method of calculating total cost of operation: The total cost is based on the flat-rate rent payable to the Expo 98 organizers for 2 400 m2 of exhibition floor space, of which 1 400 m2 will be used by DG X tor an exhibition providing general information on the Union and 1 000 m2 will be made available to the Commission's other Directorates-General for specific exhibitions on Union policies connected with the sea. To date the European Parliament and Dgs VII, VIII and XIV have confirmed their participation at a cost of 2 000 000 Ecu. The budget headings concerned are as follows: DG DGVII D G Vm DG VIII DGXTV European Parliament 1997 200 000 200000 400 000 300 000 1998 - 800 000 100 000 - Budget heading B2-704 B7-610 B7-6200 B2-1101 2721 Total 1 100 000 + 900 000 =2 000 000 Ecu Other institutions, agencies or directorates-general may propose additional financing for specific, one-off exhibitions. The total estimated cost of the action (see § 7. 2 of the financial statement) amounts, therefore, to 8 690 000 Ecu. 7. 2 Itemized breakdown of cost: Breakdown 1997 1998 Total Commitment appropriations in ecus Titles A1,A2,A4 and A5 : Officials and temporary staff 700 000 700 000 1400 000 Item A-1110: Auxiliary staff 50. 000 50 000 100 000 Article A-130: Mission expenses 45 000 145 000 190 000 Item A-3055: International meetings 1300 000 3 700 000 5000 000 - Installation dues for the overall area of 2 400 in2 (including 1 000 in2 made available to specific Commission departments, other institutions and European Union agencies) - Design and external decoration of total area (2 400 m2) - Runnings costs for total area and local staff (2 400 m2) - Preparation, assembly and decoration for general exhibition (1 400 m2) - Communication and events for general exhibition (1 400 m2) - Miscellaneous expenditure and contingencies for general exhibition (1 400 in2) Other budget items to be determined for specific exhibitions (Commission, other institutions and European Union agencies) - Budgetary lines: 2721, B2-1101, B2-704, B7-610, B7-6200 ESTIMATED TOTAL COST OF OPERATION (400 000) (2 100 000) (2 500 000) (200 000) (100 000) (300 000) (1000 000) (1000 000) (400 000) (300 000) (700 000) (250 000) (150 000) (400 000) (50 000) (50 000) (100 000) 1 100 000 900 000 2000 000 3 195 000 5 495 000 8 690 000 3 - 7- 8. FRAUD PREVENTION MEASURES All the contracts for research, design and implementation will be awarded under tendering procedures held in accordance with the Commission's Financial Regulation. 9. COST-EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS 9. 1 Specific and quantifiable objectives; target population: Specific objectives: The theme of the exhibition "The oceans: a heritage for the future" is of paramount importance for the European Union. Numerous Directorates-General are affected and Expo 98 will be a major opportunity for presenting Union policies connected with maritime issues, in the fields of industry, protection of the environment, fishery and other products, legislation, trade agreements, etc. The Commission's participation in the Lisbon World Expo 98 has three specific objectives: 1. 2. 3. Provide general information about the European Union by setting up stands in the exhibition organized by DG X (1 400 m2). Provide information about European policies and projects connected with the theme of the exhibition by setting up stands to be organized by DGs and other institutions and European Union agencies in the area set aside for this purpose (1 000 m2). Make visitors aware of the challenges of the day, and in particular the outcome of the IGC and progress towards the single currency, by setting up appropriate stands in the general exhibition and providing the public with material produced for the priority information campaigns. Target population: The organizers anticipate around 8 million visitors over the duration of the Fair, which should mean more than 14 million visits to the European Union pavilion. The target population will consist of both Portuguese visitors and foreign visitors from more than 100 other countries, the majority being specialists and decision-makers in the maritime - 4- 9. 2 Grounds for the operation Expo 98 is an international exhibition recognized by the International Exhibitions Bureau (Paris Convention). Some 125 countries, including the Member States of the Union, have expressed their wish to participate. Our operations will be limited to the 1 400 m2 fitted out by DG X and the 1 000 m2 offered to the other Directorates-General and/or Community institutions wishing to participate in the event. Our operations do not include the construction of the pavilion, but only the erection and decoration of die stands and the organization of activities throughout the exhibition. Community participation will be similar to that in other international exhibitions of this type, such as Vancouver in 1986, Brisbane in 1988, Genoa in 1992 and Taejon in 1993. Visits by a specialized, international public will have an important knock-on effect, especially in view of the future worldwide importance of the maritime sector and the policies already implemented by the Union in this field. As things currently stand and in view of the large number of participants expected, it is fairly certain that the exhibition should be a success. 9. 3 Monitoring and evaluation of the operation: Performance indicators: The unit responsible for fairs and exhibitions in DG X will have to ensure that international participation conforms with what has so far been announced. Above all, it will have to coordinate the participation of the other Directorates-General and other European institutions in order to guarantee the best possible use of the 1 000 m2 made available to them. As regards the specific objectives of the operation: the impact of the general exhibition in terms of enhancing visitors' knowledge of the Union will be measured by daily counts at the Union pavilion (target: 14 million visits), backed up by a qualitative questionnaire given to a representative sample of visitors; the impact of the specific stands on Union policies and projects connected with the theme of the fair will also be assessed by means of the above qualitative questionnaire; awareness of the IGC and the Euro will be measured by the number of information items distributed, in particular brochures. An overall assessment will be made on the basis of the qualitative questionnaire, and a financial audit will be carried out at the beginning of 1999 to evaluate the cost-effectiveness 9 of the operation, using previous participation in exhibitions of the same type as a benchmark. 10. ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE Actual mobilization of the necessary administrative resources will derive from the Commission's annual decision on the allocation of resources, in the light of whatever additional staff and amounts are awarded by the budgetary authority. Additional requests will at all events be without prejudice to the Commission's decision on: (a) (b) requests for new posts in the preliminary draft budget, and the allocation of resources. 10. 1 Effect on the number of posts Type of post Staff to be assigned to managing the operation Permanent posts Temporary posts Source Duration Additional resources 1997-98 (24 mths) Existing resources in the DG or department concerned Officials or temporary staff A B C Other resources Total 2. 5 1. 5 1. 0 5. 0 1. 0 1. 0 1. 0 3. 0 2. 5 1. 5 1. 0 1. 0 6. 0 1. 0 1. 0 2. 0 -6 At. 10. 2 Overall financial impact of additional human resources Officials Temporary staff Other resources (ecu) Amounts Method of calculation 2 temporary staff (Titles Al, A2, A4 and A5) ECU 1 000 x 2 x 2 years = ECU 400 000 400 000 Total 400000 Expenditure relating to human resources required for this operation which will be covered by mobilization of existing resources is estimated at: Titles Al, A2, A4 and A5 (5 officials): ECU 100 000 x 5 x 2 years = Item A-1110 (Auxiliary staff): ECU 50 000 x 1 x 2 years = ECU ECU 1000 000 100 000 ECU 1 100 000 10. 3 Increase in other administrative expenditure as a result of the operation Budget heading Amounts Method of calculation A-3055: International meetings 5 000 000 See Table 7. 2 (ecu) Total 5 000 000 Expenditure on missions for this operation to be covered by mobilizing existing resources is estimated at: 1997: 48 missions (2 days) 1998: 81 missions (2/3 days) Total: ECU ECU ECU 45 000 145 000 190 000 7- A <1 ISSN 0254-1475 COM(96) 562 final DOCUMENTS EN 16 01 11 Catalogue number : CB-CO-96-561-EN-C ISBN 92-78-10873-1 Office for Official Publications of the European Communities L-2985 Luxembourg -it-