A new Governance for Europeana Proposal of the Governance Taskforce

4 June 2014, MSEG, Luxembourg

Background

à  Set up as Stichting in 2007, Statutes revised 2010 à  Representative of all types of content from Libraries, Museums,

Archives and Audio Visual Collections à  Present Board made up of European Associations of Content Holders

& legacy founding members: Ministry of Culture Spain, BnF, BnE, InA à  This means it is strong on Aggregation, weak on Distribution and

access to Creative Industries à  Current Governance has been questioned by:

à  Commission à  Member States à  Executive of the Europeana Foundation à  Members of the EF Board

à  Executive committee •  Currently 8 members

à  Board of participants •  20 organisations plus

6 elected Network Officers

à  Europeana Network 900 plus members elect the 6 Network Officers

à  Europeana Office •  40+ members of staff based in

The Hague and the UK

à  Over a thousand people working on Europeana-related projects, activities and Task Forces across Europe

Europeana Foundation Current Structure

Timeline à  Taskforce set up October 2013 tasked with reviewing the current governance of

Europeana Foundation and making recommendations on its future constituency

à  First set of recommendations presented to Europeana Foundation Board on 16 April 2014, having been considered by the Europeana Network Officers on the 15th.

à  Legal advice taken in May, determined that recommendations described an Association rather than a Foundation

à  June 4 Discussion of recommendations at Member States Expert Meeting

à  Europeana Executive June 24th agreed final taskforce recommendations that a mixed governance of Association and Foundation would be more fit for purpose and that a full consultation with the Europeana Network should take place.

à  Late July/August Survey on the principle of change and the recommendations undertaken – Survey due to complete on the 24th August

à  Network Discussion on first draft of Articles of Association: August 20

à  Network Discussion on first draft of Articles of Foundation: September 5

à  Taskforce meeting September Monday 8

à  Decision on next steps by Europeana Executive September 23

à  If decision is to go ahead with changes the first elections for members council will be at Europeana Network Annual General Meeting in Madrid on 31 October

Proposal of the task force

Changing Governance Past

Changing Governance

Future

Proposal for Member State participation

All MSEG to be members of the Europeana Network Individuals may stand for election to the Council An appointed place on the Board - rotating, according to EU

presidency, with the Presidency designate – is written into the Foundation statutes

Summary:

à  Mix of stakeholders, clear role definitions, à  Structure: broad and inclusive, representative à  3 layers: Europeana Network, Members Council, Governing Board

à  Network elects Council, Council elects half the Board. à  For Board to be able to address the challenges recommended

that half of the Board is appointed by the Board themselves à  Result is distributed responsibility creating a sense of ownership.

Survey results:

Network asked if they agree in principle with the Recommendations. 53 answers to date – Survey runs until 24th August 8 No’s 43 yes’s No’s categorised: 2 Not enough protection to ensure places for commercial organistions 2 Danger of too many commercial organisations 1 Need for more influence by MS 1 Not true democracy – issues such as gender imbalance not covered 1 Worry about practicality of numbers and changing yearly 1 Question on how accountability of Board members is assured

Consequences

Consequences of the proposed articles

à  Revision of the legal structure à  Association next to existing Foundation à  Two sets of articles: Association – new

Foundation – ameliorated à  If accepted then a transition period needs to be worked

out à  Voting structure for Association needs to be in place by

the AGM 31 October 2014

Benefits of changes to the governance of Europeana

Benefits of the Taskforce Recommendations:

à  Continued sense of shared ownership and participation. Europeana becomes a truly mutual organisation. Important if we are to realise the new strategy

à  Diversity and breadth of stakeholders are represented in both Members Council and Board – more democratic

à  Mix of stakeholders and expertise within Board should mirror the necessary culture of innovation we are looking to embody in the strategic plan

à  Governing board of 15, under Foundation structure allows for decisive and effect action

à  Governing board is transparent and accountable to the Europeana Network

Benefits of the proposed structure: à  To Europeana:

à  Democracy and representation are increased, Europeana belongs to the Network

à  Places the responsibility for the survival of Europeana – its sustainability - more in the hands of the membership

à  Anyone can become a Board member if they wish à  For the Office

à  Increases traction of being a Board member, leading to greater value in the position and more activity from each and every Board member on behalf of the Europeana

à  Chance to restate roles of should lead to a working, committed board

à  Set of experts to call upon à  Stronger Network with more control of Board should increase

activity of Network

Benefits of the proposed structure: à  For Governance:

à  Split governance of an Association with Foundation keeps the speed and decision making capacity of the Foundation while opening up a more direct, democratic relationship between the governing of Europeana and its voluntary workforce

à  Gives the Board the capability of making sure that it is fit for purpose, by filling any gaps that would be needed to fulfill the Strategic plan.

Members of Taskforce

à  Joke van der Leeuw-Roord, EUROCLIO, (Chair) à  Paul Ayris, LIBER à  René Capovin, EMA à  Elisabeth Niggemann, CENL à  Karel Velle, EURBICA à  Taja Vovk van Gaal, NEMO à  Paul Keller, Kennisland

Thank you

Taskforce Governance