Europe closer to people

The Europäisches Integrationszentrum (EIZ), located in Rostock, is a publicly recognized institution of further education in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Since 2005 the EIZ is one of the organisations responsible for EUROPE DIRECT. The EIZ has several years' experience in the work on European political issues and has the necessary knowledge to cooperate with several bodies, institutions and non-profit organisations. It works closely together with the administration of Rostock and cooperates with members of the State Parliament of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the Bundestag, the European Parliament and the European Commission.

A good communication and understanding of the decision-making in EU is the basis for a better acceptance of Europe by people and for any kind of cooperation between the authorities, the citizens and the EU. That is why the EIZ constantly tries to get in contact with the citizens and to advise and inform them about the EU.

The national, regional and local levels have to be taken into account in order to implement the European communication policy in a successful way. In order to enable the city administrations and the citizens to realize the European dimensions of generally important issues and to talk to people and to involve them actively in the EU issues, information of common interest has to be available for them at any time. Therefore, the EIZ organizes events and discussions on the European issues, for example the Council Presidency of Finland (succeeded by the German one) or a possible European free-trade area with Russia, and tries to intensify public relations.