Veřejná debata o evropských fondech / Public debate on EU funds

ended

"European funds? In the Czech Republic they are, and are not. Except for signs on construction sites saying ""With financial contribution from the EU"", specialised websites like DotaceEU.cz and the technical work of the state administration, it is as if EU funds do not exist. However, they do exist, but somewhere ""in between"" - thanks to the awareness of subsidies the Eurosceptic Czech Republic moved two years ago into the ranks of Member States that perceive EU membership positively as a whole. However, there are still sections of society including media that perceive EU funds as a threat to the economy or a bogeyman for municipalities and companies with too much administration. Czech News Agency (CTK), based on everyday practice and its media and non-media partnership capabilities, wants to change this situation. In the spirit of Call IMREG-2023-INFOME, CTK is calling on its own and external professionals and chosen partners to ""Let's talk about the funds"". Not theorise, really discuss. In live talks in selected cities, with local governments, companies and entrepreneurs, with the media and citizens. Let's talk about what the funds were, are and can be for. Let's show the undecided how the EU offer has been taken up by others and elsewhere, popularise the funds by competing for the best projects in cooperation with the Union of Towns and Municipalities and the Representative Office of the European Commission in Prague. Let's draw the listeners into the topic through podcasts by the recognized expert Petr Zahradník, and bring together all the created media outputs on one publicly accessible portal. Let’s provide people with an app that delivers ""funds"" to their smartphones, publicize it all on the radio. It probably won't all be perfect, if only because we are taking a new approach to the issue of cohesion policy. If there is no debate about this, we can start one. It is worth a try. "