The document proposes changes to the governance structure of Europeana to make it more democratic and distributed. It recommends a mixed governance model with both an Association and Foundation. The Association would have a Members Council elected by the Europeana Network that in turn elects half the Board. The other half of the Board would be appointed. This distributes responsibility and gives stakeholders a sense of ownership. A survey of the Network found general support for the recommendations. The benefits are seen as increased democracy, representation of diverse stakeholders, and a more effective and accountable governing board.

1. A new Governance for Europeana
Proposal of the Governance Taskforce
4 June 2014, MSEG, Luxembourg

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. Proposal of the task
force

6. Changing Governance
Past

7. Changing Governance
Future

8. 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

9. 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.

10. 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

11. Consequences

12. 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

13. Benefits of changes to the governance of
Europeana

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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.

17. 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

18. Thank you
Taskforce Governance