Information Centre of the Government (ICV) Office of the Government of the Czech Republic Annual Report for 2010 1. Introduction The Information Centre of the Government (ICV) entered the second year of its existence as an organizational unit of the Office of the Government of the Czech Republic (hereinafter referred to as Office) which is positively perceived by the public. Not only the concept that had been set was successfully fulfilled but the Office was also presented as an open and public-friendly institution. Based on experience of the first months of its existence, the ICV formed its activities so that they would best reflect needs of the public and provide fast and high-quality information service. As it is apparent from the annexes to this annual report, both direct and mediated communication of the ICV with the public has risen. Nearly 65 000 people used the ICV services in 2010. The ICV played an important role in presentation of the activities of the working and advisory bodies of the government. Many projects were prepared in cooperation with these bodies and the ICV provided not only the space on its websites but also its own staff. Among the most important events was the campaign Equal Opportunities for All organized on the occasion of adoption the National Plan for Creation of Equal Opportunities for People with Disabilities for 2010-2014. In this respect the ICV proved to be a right instrument for unification and coordination of the individual activities of the Office. Just as in the last years the ICV provided information services for employees of the Office. In particular in connection with the restructuring of the Office, the Intranet proved to be an important instrument through which new employees had a possibility to gain necessary information on the activities of the Office and its organizational units. Survey on the ICV activities in the individual areas is given in the annexe to this annual report. 2. Organizational Arrangements and Budget of the ICV Up to October 2010 the ICV – the Information Centre of the Government - was directly headed by the Head of the Office of the Government and was divided into two units – the Public Relation Unit and Documentation Unit. Its activities were carried out by 12 employees of the Office, two temporaries and varying number of articled clerks who helped in organizing events and providing services the ICV offices. In the framework of restructuring the ICV was incorporated into the Press Department. The purpose of this measure was to ensure coordination of activities and to improve presentation of the ICV activities through integration of up to then separated spheres – relations with media and the public. - 1 - Apart from duties resulting from its scope of activities, the ICV organized activities connected with translations and interpretation, administration and editing of websites www.vlada.cz ., financing, and in cooperation with the relevant section also legal relations with suppliers. The approved budget of the Information Centre of the Government amounted as of 1 January in the budgetary item “Purchase of Other Services” to 693,000 CZK. In April 2010 the budget was increased, bases on the approval of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Finance, by claims resulting from unused financial means of 2009. Based on the budgetary measure No. 20024, the Information Centre of the Government received from the off-budget resources in total 6 million crowns for media communication. In total 4,251,812 CZK, which represent 84.71% were spent out of the total amount 6,693,000 which had the Information Centre of the Government at its disposal. 3. ICV Activities 3.1. Educational Activities The educational activities of the |Information Centre of the Government are offered as a support of education in the area Man and Society and in particular in the educational area Education towards Citizenship at elementary schools and the Civic and Social Science- Related Bases at grammar schools. Just as in the last year, when we welcomed in the newly open Information Centre of the Government more than 300 schoolchildren of elementary and students of secondary schools and universities who attended our lectures, in 2010 we organized regular cycle of lectures focused on the government activities, on activities of the working and advisory bodies of the government and on issues of the Czech statehood. More than 20 schools used that opportunity and lectures were attended by more than 1000 students. There are no extra costs connected with organization of lectures as lectures are ensured by the ICV staff and by colleagues of the competent organization units of the Office. - 2 - After lectures students answered in written form questions and after evaluation of results, an educational tour in premises of the Straka Academy was organized for the most active ones. In 2010 these students were received by the Prime Minister Jan Fischer. At the end of 2010 was also launched the pilot project Simulated Meeting of the Government. Within this project, teams of 14 schools will go through the entire process of preparation of government materials in an adequate simplified form including the debate on it and defence at the meeting of the government which will be held at the Straka Academy in June 2011. Also university students were actively engaged in the ICV activities. In the form of study visits they help to implement projects and provide information service in the offices in Vladislavova Street. For university students the ICV prepared a discussion with the minister Juraj Chmiel the topic of which was the Lisbon Treaty. - 3 - 3.2. Educational Aids For students of secondary schools and grammar schools and for their teachers there are on the ICV websites http://icv.vlada.cz/cz/pro-skoly/studijni-materialy.htm updated and published new study materials which can be used in preparation for A levels and for entrance examination at universities. For schoolchildren of elementary schools are prepared photographs with basic information on the members of the government (in the format A4) and a summary of the lecture on government activities. For students of elementary and secondary schools we prepared in the Hrzán Palace in Hradčany a long-term exhibition Symbols of the Republic: Pillars of the Czech Statehood. The exhibition informs on historical roots of the official Czech state symbols – the Large and Small State Emblems, the State Colours, the State Flag, the State Banner of the President of the Republic, the State Seal, and the State Anthem, and it is open to the public every Wednesday 3.3. Methodological Support of the Public Administration The objective of the ICV is to contribute, based on our and foreign experience, to the preparation of methodological materials in the sphere of information provision and to pursue an effective network of information centres of public institutions focused on improving services provided for the public. A meeting of employees of institutions of the public administration working in the field of information provision was held in 2010. Its topic was Psychological and Legal Aspects of Communication with the Public. A part of the meeting - 4 - was also the lecture of JUDr Adam Furek on the Act on Free Access to Information, the lecture of JUDr Joža Spurný on communication psychology, and a discussion. 3.4. Scientific and Enlightening Projects Also in 2010 the important scope of activities included organizing conferences and seminars of experts. Support of science is highlighted in the programme priorities of the government and meetings of the Prime Minister with representatives of the scientific community were one of platforms for the mutual exchange of experience and opinions. Except for presentation of new scientific findings, scientists use these meetings for discussions on problems of the Czech science, its funding, institutional issues and such like. The participation of the Prime Minister and other members of the government in scientific projects is also a symbolical form of the support and respect showed the Czech science. The ICV acted in several cases in the role of an initiator; in particular in such areas that were directly connected with the activities of the government or the Office of the Government. It concerned for example remembrance of important historical anniversaries and topics related to the Czech statehood or the presentation of activities of advisory bodies of the government. Except for that, the ICV was commissioned with the preparation of materials, standpoints or speeches of the Prime Minister. In particular the projects organized in cooperation with universities and academic circles met with an extraordinary positive response of experts. Among the most significant was the seminar and conference organized on the occasion of 90 th anniversary of the adoption of the Czech Constitution in 1920. Contribution of prominent Czech lawyers and historians were published in the book form either at the expense of the Office or in cooperation with the publishing house Leges, s.r.o. Positively were also valued celebrations of the Czech Statehood 28 September that were organized under the auspices of the Prime Minister. Highlighting of importance of the Saint Wenceslas the patron saint of Czech lands by the Prime Minister Petr Ne čas was appreciated not only by the Prague Archbishop Mons Dominik Duka but also by representatives of the academic community. The restored premiere of the film Saint Wenceslas with the original music accompaniment was broadcasted by the second channel of Czech TV from the Prague Rudolfinum Hall. Judging from the statistical data and the response in newspapers and professional journals, the viewer ratings were very high. Also the presentation of the Office in the form of open days and tours proved to be highly effective. In particular regular weekends in the villa of Hana and Edvard Beneš in Sezimovo Ústí as well as nonrecurring events in the Prague seats of the government were visited by thousands of visitors.