evoice: rationale

Interest in politics in the North Sea Region has dwindled to such an extent over recent decades that the legitimacy of our elected leaders is being brought into question. Figures show that:

• fewer people are using their right to vote;
• membership of political parties has plummeted, and
• the choice of political representatives is narrowing as fewer people put themselves forward for election.

If these trends continue, the proper functioning of the democratic system could be endangered.

---

The evoice project is financed through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in the framework of the Interreg IIIB North Sea Programme and contributions from the project partners.


for more information, visit:
www.evoice-eu.net

---

community website Hoogkerk, NL: award winning

On May 19th, 2006, the Municipality of Groningen received the Galjaard Award of the Dutch Vereniging voor Communicatie Logeion, the Society for Communication Professionals. The Municipality of Groningen received this award for its interactive community website for the village Hoogkerk (approximately 10,000 inhabitants).



The Galjaard Award is granted annually to a governmental organisation in The Netherlands that communicates with its public in an original and innovative way.

The jury appreciated the combination between the community website and the visual news items as broadcasted in the newscast on video.

In addition, the co-operation between the Vereniging Wijkopbouw Hoogkerk, other suburban organisations in the village, the local television station and the municipality was also considered to be unique.

Mr Jacques Wallage, mayor of the Municipality of Groningen, expressed his appreciation and satisfaction in a special news item:

• news item mayor Wallage
  (May, 16th, 2006)