Brussels, 22/10/2004 (Agence Europe) - A series of appeals for tender has been launched in Member States to set up the future citizens' information network. Operational from spring 2005, this "EUROPE DIRECT information network" will assume the work currently undertaken by Info Points Europe and the Rural Information Centres
Reception structures selected via appeals to tender will receive funding of between EUR 12,000 to 24,000 per year over a period of four years maximum. These structures can be either public or private bodies that have a public service mission status.
Appeals for tender were launched by the Commission's representations in the "Fifteen" or via intermediary nationals in the new Member States.
The addresses of these intermediaries are available on the Commission's web-site: (http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/represent_fr.htm ).