An important element of the European Environment Agency's (EEA) mandate is to make the environmental information it produces known, available and easily understandable to potential users. Communication is an integral part of the EEA's efforts undertaken in order to fulfil its mandate:

— to help the EU and member countries make informed decisions about improving the environment, integrating environmental considerations into economic policies and moving towards sustainability, and

— to coordinate the European environment information and observation network (Eionet).

EEA's main clients are the European Union institutions — the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Council — and its member countries. In addition to this central group of European policy actors, the EEA also serves other EU institutions such as the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions.

The business community, academia, non-governmental organisations and other parts of civil society are also important users of the EEA's information. The Agency tries to achieve 2-way communication with its clients in order to correctly identify their information needs, and make sure that the information provided is understood and taken up by them.

In the range of communication activities undertaken by the Agency, events and exhibitions forms an important part. The EEA therefore wishes to establish a framework contract with specialised service providers who should be able to assist the EEA with all technical tasks relating to events and exhibitions.