European Commission to act on design policy for Europe

On 21 January 2008 Michael Thomson (president BEDA) and Jan R. Stavik (vice-president BEDA) met with Günter Verheugen (vice-president European Commission) in Brussels. At the meeting Günter Verheugen stressed the European Commission’s full agreement with the positioning of design as a ‘very crucial element’ for European competitiveness: “Europe must maintain its position as the most competitive region in the world as far as design is concerned”.

Key actions

The European Commission will issue a Communication (a non- non-legislative policy document) on design to be published during the European Year of Creativity and Innovation in 2009. This policy document will e.g. include guidance to EU member states on national design promotion strategies.

The Commission will reinforce its efforts to build up a knowledge base for design activity and design policy in Europe. The European project ADMIRE (i.e. the Design Managament Europe network) is currently conducting a mapping study of design and design management in Europe. This information will be complemented by data from existing tools such as the INNO Policy Trendchart, the Innobarometer and the European Innovation Scoreboard.

The Commission will ensure the existence of a permanent body for a dialogue on design policy as a key component of Europe’s innovation policy, within the context of achieving the goals of the Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs.

The ADMIRE's (DME) headquarters in Eindhoven:
"The actions as agreed upon demonstrate the importance the European Commission attaches to design as a key component for Europe's innovation policy. It is very promising that there is ensured the existence of a permanent body on design policy. As ADMIRE consortium we look forward to taking up the role as one of the most important partners in this development delivering essential content that puts design on top of the European agenda."

Bureau of European Design Associations, BEDA
BEDA was established as an Association of Associations in 1969. It currently has 42 members in 23 Member States comprising representative professional design organisations and national design promotion centres. Its role is to communicate the value of design and innovation to the institutions of the European Union.

Michael Thomson, president BEDA:
“The measures outlined by vice-president Verheugen today will permanently raise design’s profile in European innovation policy and will help to grow and strengthen design in Europe”.

Date: 24-01-2008