Brussels, 08/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - In order to promote information on the euro, the European Commission plans to subsidise 34 projects that it has selected from 158 proposals in the context of the information programme for European citizens (PRINCE). This is the third stage in the partnership with the civil society on information activities related to the euro. The Commission made a call for proposals last year, offering financial aid to transnational communication measures that involved at least three Member States, one of which is part of the euro-zone, and having the greatest possible multiplier effect. Such actions must end by 30 June 2002 at the latest. The target groups are SMEs (11 projects selected), the civil society (2), young people aged 6 to 18 (9), vulnerable groups (10), and regional and local authorities (2). The overall budget for the projects is EUR 8.4 million, covered by subsidies totalling EUR 5.7 million. The European Commission hopes to create a synergy by the summer, continuing such actions with those of the euro-zone member States and the European Central Bank. In a press release, it recalls that, with less than a year to go before the euro takes effect, "we need to increase [public] awareness of issues such as dual display of prices, values in euros, handling euros and the conversion rate between the euro and their national currency".