Fondation EurActiv integrated the activities of Brussels-based international association PoliTech Institute (European Centre of Political Technologies) and Blogactiv.eu, EurActiv’s blog platform, on 1 January 2011. Fondation EurActiv has been re-named ‘Fondation EurActiv PoliTech’ to reflect its Web 2.0 credentials. A new Social Media department now brings together PoliTech and Blogactiv.
 
“The renewed Foundation becomes a leader in EU circles regarding social media and political technologies (i.e. eDemocracy, eGovernment and eParticipation). Putting together the expertise of Fondation EurActiv, Blogactiv and PoliTech will favour our Web 2.0 development and expand our EU communication projects," said Julian Oliver, secretary-general of Fondation EurActiv. 
 
Christophe Leclercq, founder of Fondation EurActiv, said: "Both EurActiv.com, its 12 country affiliates and Blogactiv.eu support what we call the 'Community of EU Actors', in Brussels and in the national capitals. These EU circles are fragmented by languages, different constituencies and various topics of interest. They need to interact more efficiently to support policy debates and engage citizens. The tools to do so exist: rolling them out is our main goal."
 
"PoliTech brings together in a platform of networking, exchange, consultation, information, debate, training and sharing good practices the converging domains of Political Technologies, ePolitics, eParticipation, eDemocracy, eDiplomacy, eCitizenship, eGovernance and eGovernment. We are happy to be part of the EurActiv family,” declared PoliTech Founder Daniel van Lerberghe.
 
The PoliTech Institute was founded in 2004 as an ‘Association Internationale Sans But Lucratif (AISBL)’. It cooperates with public institutions, international institutions, governments, regional and local authorities, universities, research centres, think- tanks, civil society, political leaders and technology actors. It aims to make better use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) with the goal of advancing modern public governance and democracy.
PoliTech has a successful six-year track record of winning EU projects, which will now be enhanced by its cooperation with the leading EU blog platform, Blogactiv.
 
Media contacts:
Julian Oliver, Secretary General, Fondation EurActiv, +32(0)2.226.58.25, secgen@euractiv.com
Christophe Leclercq, Founder, FondationEurActiv, +32(0)2.226.58.13, fondateur@euractiv.com
Daniel van Lerberghe, Director Social Media and PoliTech Founder, +32(0)2.788.36.92, daniel.van.lerberghe@euractiv.com 
Radu Magdin, Communications Manager, EurActiv.com, +32(0)2.788.36.88, communication@euractiv.com
 
You can also access the sites of FondationEurActiv, Blogactiv and PoliTech.