Working mechanisms. Organisation: the prepress cooperation agreement came into force on 1 July 2008. Its aim was to integrate prepress (graphic design) activities, up till then the responsibility of the joint Printshop/Distribution Unit, into the two Committees' services dealing with publications. Over the past three years the EESC's Visits and Publications (ViP) Unit and CoR's Administration, Budget, Editions Unit undertook the necessary organisational and procedural measures to integrate a team of four graphic designers each into their structures, thus assuming responsibility for the entire range of the publications and graphic products chain. The two Committees undertook the necessary practical/operational adjustments to ensure that their respective structures integrate the new tasks, workflow continues uninterrupted and inter-service cooperation operates optimally. Monitoring workflow: the core cooperation mechanism for monitoring publications and graphic products workflow continues to be the weekly meetings between the two Committees' publication coordinators and the joint Printshop Unit. These meetings, involving EESC and CoR officials responsible for publications and officials from the Printshop/Distribution Unit, ensured planning of production and established printing priorities. Relations between the joint Printshop/Distribution Unit and the two Committees' Publications Units have been efficient and cordial. Colleagues in the Printshop have always been ready to share know- how and spread best practices. This has made it possible to process publication requests optimally and ensure workflow continuity. Occasional meetings also take place with the joint IT Unit, whenever necessary. Informal contact between the EESC and CoR heads of unit and heads of the Joint Services is frequent and cordial. Relations with requesting services: The two Committees' units have been particularly careful to inform internal services about new developments and familiarise them with them, in particular as regards graphic design. Information sessions were organised during joint meetings, for example in the context of EESC's Communication Team, and also with each internal service separately. Moreover, each of the Committees drew up a new "Guide" to explain the new procedures and provide all appropriate information to internal services for producing publications and/or graphic support products. The Printshop/Distribution Unit also drew up a new "Guide" reflecting its tasks and mode of operation....
