Give information to ECOTEC Research

							                           2007 Action Plan
Culture
Objectives and Strategies:
1) Obtain greater recognition of circus as culture.
a) Partner with Hors les Murs to establish and increase contacts.
b) Provide information to contacts with request for recognition (e.g., Germany, Switzerland).
c) Successfully counter discriminatory policies (e.g. only “new” circus).
2) Ensure continuation of existing recognition of circus as culture.
       a) Countries (e.g., France);
       b) Arts councils (e.g., U.K. and Ireland) and
       c) Regional authorities (e.g., Flanders, Belgium).



Education
Objectives and Strategies:
    1) Circus Children:
           a) Stimulate start of international laptop project with ENTE
           b) Give information to ECOTEC Research & Consulting to support the EU survey
           c) Stimulate members to participate in projects.
2) Vocational Education
           a) Continuation collaboration with FEDEC organization
           b) Continuation and evaluation EPE project
           c) Participation in Circle project


Visa and Work Permits
Objectives and Strategies:
       Visas / Work Permits
       Based on a statement of EU- DG Employment, we will give recommendations to
national authorities to create an effective way to let foreign circus artist work in their countries



Technical Standards
Objectives and Strategies:
   1) Improve circus community awareness and use of standards.
           • Provide ECA members with summary of topics and guidance on how to use
              existing standards.
   2) Advance consideration of additional areas that require harmonization.
           • Request to ECA members to submit information about existing problems.
Animals
Objectives and Strategies:

1) Avoid additional bans/bad regulations across Europe.
    a) Achieve greater recognition of circus as culture.

   b) Work with UK, France – ongoing legislative processes.

   c) Establish commitment to regulation in additional countries.
         • Finalize and provide Model Regulations to select countries (e.g., Ireland).
         • Create and provide ECA document of scientific evidence.

   d) Establish Circus Register in select countries.
        • Propose system to governments.
        • Offer to support voluntary registration.

   e) Create first objective indicator for a circus animal (e.g. elephant).
        • Draft proposal with elephant experts.
        • Obtain support outside of circus community.
        • Work with Commission to achieve its adoption.

   f) Increase ECA and member conservation/education roles.
          • Adopt conservation charity.
          • Make contribution.
          • Carry out awareness campaign.

   g) Increase role of circus community as leading animal experts.
         • Create Animal Enrichment brochure.

2) Successfully challenge existing bans or bad regulations.
    a) Support action against Austria.
         • Private lawsuit to be filed.
         • European Commission case

   b) Support actions against Belgium.
        • Private lawsuit continuing.
        • Seek withdrawal of Decree because of invalid provisions.

   c) Explore options with new government in Sweden.

   3) Continue to ensure workability and appropriate implementation of regulations.

          –   Continue to work the Commission concerning 1739/2005.

          –   Ensure that EU transport regulations are not applicable to circuses.

          –   Monitor any new developments at the European level and implementation by
              Member States.