It’s your Europe Living, learning and working anywhere in the EU Contents

The European Union – wide open with opportunities for all 3

Information and advice – at your fingertips 5

Expanding horizons – study and learning 7

Finding a job – opportunities on a continental scale 17

Research – think European 20

Go for it! 22 The European Union – wide open with opportunities for all

In the early 1990s, the European Yet there are many things to be Union became a truly open area in gained from a period of study or work which people, goods, services and abroad: a real change of environment; money can move around with almost new personal horizons; daily contact total freedom. Every EU citizen, with a different culture; the ideal regardless of age, has the right to opportunity to learn a new language; travel, live, work, study and retire the chance to enjoy working or anywhere in the EU. And there are studying alongside people from plenty of opportunities! different backgrounds, exchanging ideas and comparing experiences. This booklet tells you about those opportunities. It encourages you to What’s more, employers are increasingly think seriously about the benefits and looking for people with a wider variety personal fulfilment to be gained of professional experience. A period of through living, learning or working in study or work abroad can enhance a another EU country. CV and make it more attractive to prospective employers. Although the booklet is designed primarily for EU citizens, some of the It’s no secret: Europe can change your programmes it describes are open to life if you want it to. applicants from other European countries. Citizens of the new EU Mobility means competitiveness member states (due to join in 2004) will also have full access to these In June 2000, the presidents and opportunities, in some cases after a prime ministers of the 15 EU countries transitional period. pledged to transform the Union into the most competitive knowledge- Personal gains based society in the world by 2010. Making a reality of this pledge The idea of going to study or work in includes a raft of initiatives to another country doesn’t occur to most encourage people to move around the of us – or, if it does, we can think of all EU to maximise their studying, sorts of objections. So we don’t bother. working, learning and lifestyle opportunities. Competitiveness means putting skilled people where the jobs are. So Europe needs movers!

3 It’s your Europe

Clear road ahead In fact, in the last decade, the European Union has done a lot to Nobody wants to commit themselves remove obstacles of this kind, clearing to spending a long time in another the road ahead for all would-be country without being sure of the movers. This booklet points you to answers to some key questions, such sources of more detailed information as: to help you get moving in Europe.

• Will my qualifications be recognised It’s your Europe elsewhere in the EU? The European Commission is setting • What access do I have to welfare up an Internet portal called ‘Your services in another EU country? Europe’ (europa.eu.int/youreurope). • How are my rights guaranteed? This provides a one-stop shop for online information and advice about • Where would my children go to living, working and learning in Europe. school? Here you will find links to all the other web sites and portals mentioned in this booklet.

Europe Direct

For any kind of information about the European Union, dial 00 800 6 7 8 9 The road is open, so 10 11, from anywhere in the EU, free head for new horizons. of charge. You will reach an operator who speaks your language and can help answer your questions. Also on- line at europa.eu.int/europedirect. © Eureka Slide

4 Information and advice – at your fingertips

As an EU citizen you have the right to Need more help? Two direct live and work in any EU country. services at your disposal However, when planning your move abroad, you will naturally be asking a 1. Citizens Signpost Service whole range of practical questions. Where to live? What about schools Do you want expert advice about: and childcare facilities? Can I move to another country without having a job • Difficulties buying or renting property offer? Will my qualifications be in another EU country? recognised? How do I get residence and work permits? Is my driving • Trouble registering your car? licence valid in other countries? Do I • Problems having your professional have the same healthcare and social qualifications recognised? security rights as at home? What is my tax situation if I work in another EU • Problems with the tax authorities? country? How will my pension be paid? And so on. • Technical difficulties transferring your pension rights to a new country of In the past, hunting for all this residence? information could be a frustrating and time-consuming business. But no longer. The European Commission Then follow the link to our Citizens and EU government departments Signpost Service (CSS). It provides free have been working very hard to tailor-made information and advice provide you with guides and up-to- on your rights and will point you to date factsheets on all these topics and the organisation or service that can many more besides. best help solve your problem. Experts will reply to your enquiry, in your own Answers to your questions language, within three working days.

We are now making all these sources of information available online via the ‘Your Europe’ Internet portal: europa.eu.int/youreurope.

Click on it and follow the links for all the information you need. You will find very detailed guidance on all the issues that concern you – from social security and tax systems to practical details like finding a school, renting accommodation and opening a bank account, in whatever EU country you choose to go to.

5 It’s your Europe

2. European Consumer Centres Then follow the link to the European Consumer Centres. These centres Do you want advice about your rights have been (or are being) set up in all as a consumer, or help in solving a EU countries and the network is consumer protection problem? Do expanding to cover all the countries you need expert information about: due to join the EU in the next few years. Your local centre can give you • Shopping online? the information you need as well as specific help with cross-border • Package holidays? disputes. • Timeshare deals? Still got problems? • Cross-border banking? Let Solvit solve them for you • Food safety? If you feel your rights are being denied by a wrong application of EU law, you can take your problem to a Solvit centre, either in your home country or the country where you are living and doing business.

She will receive treatment for Solvit has been set up to solve your any medical problems that problems as efficiently as possible arise during her period of without the need for legal action. The training abroad. system is free of charge and is based on a network of centres run by the public authorities in each EU country. Find them online by clicking on the Solvit link in the ‘Your Europe’ portal.

Whatever your needs, whether as a consumer or simply as an EU citizen, Europe’s public services are there to help you. © LWA - Dann Tardif/Van Parys Media

6 Expanding horizons – study and learning

Moving to another EU country need ‘Contact’, and ‘Moving to a country’ – be no barrier to your education or each focusing on different types of vocational training. On the contrary: information. it could be a great personal opportunity, and the EU is The most important feature of encouraging educational mobility. Ploteus is the Learning opportunities Hundreds of thousands of students, section – a collection of almost 4 000 young workers and teachers have links to national or regional already discovered the benefits of databases and to education or spending a long period abroad – training institutions’ web sites in 30 thanks to some of the EU’s most European countries. You can select popular programmes. information according to location, learning language, subject or level of Information is the first key to making education. This makes searching easy the right decision. You want to move and adaptable to everybody’s needs. to Italy and study architecture? Then you need to find out what the If you want to know about the options are and what courses are structure of an education system or available. You have to move to about qualifications, grants and Sweden with your family? Then you tuition fees, go to the Education need to find out about the education systems section. It provides clear and system and choose a school for your concise descriptions of the national children. education systems in 11 languages, together with links to other useful You can find answers to questions information and web sites. such as these via the new Ploteus Internet portal (www.ploteus.net). It The Exchanges section contains has been designed by the European information about all types of Union to connect people to detailed exchange programmes at all levels – sources of information on education from traineeships in companies, to and training in 30 European European voluntary service, to countries. specific educational exchange programmes such as Erasmus and Find out with Ploteus Leonardo da Vinci.

In ancient Greek, Ploteus means For further information and career ‘navigator’. In the 21st century, guidance, the Contact section Ploteus also stands for ‘Portal on provides details of national guidance Learning Opportunities Throughout centres in 30 countries. To find out the European Space’. Clicking on more about the hands-on part of www.ploteus.net leads to a living and learning abroad, go to the collection of links divided into Moving to a country section. It gives sections: ‘Learning opportunities’, useful tips on practical matters like ‘Education systems’, ‘Exchanges’, accommodation, the cost of living, tax and social security.

7 It’s your Europe

Youth – discovering Europe

Are you between 15 and 25 years old? You want to discover other countries and learn about life there? Then check out our special EU Youth programme at europa.eu.int/comm/youth/program/index_en.html. It gives young people in 30 European countries – and some other parts of the world – loads of oppor- tunities to take part in group exchanges, local youth projects and so on. It also offers you help in developing your own project ideas.

Would you like to spend a ‘gap year’ doing voluntary work abroad? Contact the European Voluntary Service, which is part of the EU Youth programme.

The Youth programme aims at ‘inclusion’. In other words, it particularly supports young people who wouldn’t otherwise have the chance to go abroad because of difficult circumstances in their own lives or in their home country.

Also check out our new European Youth portal (europa.eu.int/youth), online in 2004. Here you can access information on a whole range of issues, from pro- tecting the environment to fighting racism. It lets you chat with young people anywhere, any time, and discuss issues with everyone – including politicians. The future of Europe is in the hands of its young people, and EU leaders of today very much want the new generation to get involved in designing the Europe of tomorrow. What better way to start than by exploring Europe, discovering its peoples and their cultures, making friends, having fun together and discussing the future. Today’s young people will shape tomorrow’s Europe.

8 If you are a student Socrates/Erasmus can give you:

Thanks to the Socrates/Erasmus • the opportunity to study at a programme, thousands of young partner institution in Europe for people every year discover the joys 3 to 12 months; and rewards of study exchanges in the EU. Imagine studying abroad, • full academic recognition of the meeting new friends, getting to know study period as part of your degree; a different culture and learning another language, all at the same • eligibility for a small grant from the time! EU to cover extra expenses.

You could be one of the thousands if At the same time, you can improve you are studying at a higher your language skills by taking part in education institution in any of the 31 one of the intensive language countries that take part in the preparation courses the host programme. They are: universities provide. The university will not charge you special fees and it will • the 15 European Union countries: help you to find accommodation. Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom;

• the 10 countries due to become EU members in 2004: Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia;

• the three other candidate countries: Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey;

• three EEA/EFTA countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

9 It’s your Europe

To find out more, go to europa.eu.int/ The Commission, the Council of comm/education/programmes/ Europe and Unesco have also jointly socrates/erasmus/students_en.html developed a ‘diploma supplement’, Alternatively, ask the international of- which includes both a graduate’s fice of your home university or look at personal achievements and a its web site. Please note that the num- description of his or her national ber of places for participating in Eras- higher education system. The diploma mus is limited. supplement is now starting to be widely implemented across Europe. The European credit transfer For further information go to system (ECTS) europa.eu.int/comm/education/ policies/rec_qual/recognition/ The ECTS (europa.eu.int/comm/ diploma_en.html. education/programmes/socrates/ ects_en.html) is designed to ensure that your study period abroad is officially recognised. The European Commission introduced ECTS more than 10 years ago, and the system is still expanding, even beyond Europe.

Study abroad is not only a great experience: it will also look good on your CV. © Eureka Slide

10 ‘After Erasmus I didn’t just go back to my old life’

Nathalie Vandelle, a political science student in Rennes, France, decided to spend her Erasmus year at Edinburgh University.

‘Doing an Erasmus year in Scotland was a great opportunity for me to improve my English and to meet lots of new people – not only from Scotland but from all over Europe. I even took lessons in Scottish history so I could really appre- ciate where I was living.’

And for Nathalie her Erasmus year was much more than just a chance to im- prove her English and be part of a new culture. ‘Living abroad, away from fami- ly and friends, I became more independent, more mature and more self-confi- dent. I had more responsibility as an adult, but could still enjoy life as a student. The best of both worlds!’

Erasmus really did change her life: after finishing her studies she moved to yet another European country. ‘Once I had lived abroad I realised how easy and how much fun it was. So I decided to look for work in another country. I found that employers are impressed if you have an Erasmus year on your CV. I was offered a job in Belgium and I now live and work in Brussels.’

Nathalie Vandelle © ASCii

11 It’s your Europe

The programme for teachers includes:

• developing study programmes with European partner institutions;

• teaching periods abroad (from one to eight weeks) at one of your partner institutions;

• joining or creating a ‘thematic network’.

© Roy Morsch/Van Parys Media The official EU web site for the teachers’ programme is europa.eu.int/ A first class experience! If you teach at a university or comm/education/programmes/ The Comenius scheme other higher education institution socrates/erasmus/teacher_en.html. is for pupils and teachers alike. The Socrates/Erasmus programme is not only for students: it is also for higher education professors and teaching staff.

Would you like to add a ‘European dimension’ to your academic curriculum? The ‘Erasmus University Charter’ can help by providing financial support. Your active participation in Socrates/Erasmus will bring your institution closer to Europe and Europe closer to your institution.

eLearning The www.elearningeuropa.info portal brings together information on the use of multimedia technologies and the Internet for education, training and lifelong learning in Europe. Use it to find facts, share experiences, disseminate projects and discuss ideas. One of its main purposes is to improve cooperation in this field among@ all European players – so the more people use it the better.

12 If you want a professional or grant to help you with expenses. Some vocational training course abroad of these projects are organised by higher education institutions, others There is a lot to be gained by following are run by professional bodies, a training course or apprenticeship in a regional associations, etc. country other than your own. It can improve your employment prospects, Are you a trainer, mentor or human broaden your horizons, give you a new resources manager? Are you perspective on life, make you more responsible for personnel training in adaptable and boost your confidence. your company? Under the Leonardo It can also be great fun! What’s more, da Vinci programme you can take part the qualifications you earn will be in foreign study visits lasting from one recognised in every EU country. to six weeks.

The European Union runs a All the Leonardo da Vinci training programme called Leonardo da Vinci. schemes are run by organisations in One of its aims is to give young people each EU country, coordinated by a access to training and apprentice- national agency. So, if you are ships, so as to improve their chances interested, contact your national of finding work – and more skilled agency. A complete list of these work. It also aims to improve agencies can be found on the vocational training for people of all programme’s official web site: ages, helping them acquire new skills europa.eu.int/comm/education/ throughout their life and thus adapt programmes/leonardo/ to new job requirements – for leonardo_en.html. example, working with new You can do an technologies. apprenticeship in another country thanks Are you following an initial to the Leonardo da Vinci professional training course? Are you programme. a young worker (salaried or seeking work) or a recent graduate? If so, you can complete your training abroad under the Leonardo da Vinci programme, for a period from 3 weeks to 12 months. The programme includes language courses and cultural awareness training to help you feel ‘at home’ as much as possible during your stay abroad.

Are you a student seeking professional experience? Under the Leonardo da Vinci programme you can apply for a 3- to 12-month placement in a company in one of the

30 participant countries, and obtain a © Eureka Slide

13 It’s your Europe

You too can communicate in other languages!

Europe will always be multilingual, and learning languages opens doors. For individuals, it can open the door to a better career, to the chance to live, study or work abroad, even to more enjoyable holi- days. For companies, multilingual staff can open the door to European and global markets.

Promoting the learning of languages throughout life and improving the quality of language teaching are key objectives of the European Union. So it has a variety of schemes designed (for example) to: • get schools in different countries working together on projects; • help foreign-language teachers take in-service training courses abroad; • put language assistants into classrooms; • promote language skills at the workplace and in the training environment.

According to a Europe-wide opinion poll carried out in 2001 (Eurobarometer Special Survey 54), some 53% of EU citizens speak at least one foreign language in addition to their mother tongue. In some countries the figure is as high as 98%.

English is by far the most frequently used foreign language. German and French are spoken by rough- ly the same numbers of people, German more as a mother tongue, French more as a foreign language. People from the three largest language communities tend to have less faith in their language skills than others.

To find out more about the EU’s language learning programmes and sources of funding visit europa.eu.int/comm/education/policies/lang/languages/index_en.html

If you are a school teacher It supports activities such as school partnerships and exchanges, training The European Union’s Comenius projects for teaching staff and setting scheme (which also comes under the up school networks. umbrella of the ‘Socrates’ programme) More information is available at focuses on EU-wide cooperation on europa.eu.int/comm/education/ pre-school, primary and secondary programmes/socrates/comenius/ schooling. It is aimed at all members of index_en.html. the education community – pupils, teachers, other education staff, local authorities, parents’ associations, non- governmental organisations.

14 Something for everyone Most member states have a national information office that can help you Whoever you are and whatever your find the programme best suited to your educational or training situation, the needs. Local EU information offices will EU has programmes to help you also be able to provide advice and promote and take part in learning information. anywhere in the Union.

Lifelong learning

Europe is part of the global economy and has to compete with other advanced societies where knowledge and skills are the key to prosperity.

Knowledge and skills become obsolete very quickly. That is why, in its drive for modernisation and competitiveness, the European Union is encouraging citizens of all ages to train and study to update their skills. It is also important to make use of learning acquired in all walks of life, and not only through formal educa- tion.

Ideally, everyone should continue learning throughout their lifetime, for the sake of personal development as well as employment. At present, in any given year, fewer than 10% of Europeans of working age undertake any training. This is clearly not enough.

The European education and training programmes Socrates, Leonardo and Youth are a key driving force for making lifelong learning a reality. If you are an adult interested in updating your own skills, check out the Grundtvig adult education programme, which promotes lifelong learning for people of any age. More information at europa.eu.int/comm/education/programmes/socrates/ grundtvig/home_en.html.

It’s never too late

to learn. © Rob Lewine/Van Parys Media

15 It’s your Europe

Eight reasons why you should learn in another European country

1. Meet people of different nationalities and make new friends. 2. Improve your employment possibilities. Make your CV different by spending time studying or training in another country. The experience of living abroad can be very attractive to potential employers. 3. Broaden your horizons. Immersion in a foreign culture can give you a new perspective on life and make you more adaptable. 4. Boost your confidence. Learning to cope in a foreign country can increase your self-reliance and maturity. 5. Enhance your working knowledge of another European language. Study or training abroad can have a dramatic impact on your fluency. If you have no language skills, it is an ideal opportunity to acquire a good working knowledge of another European language. 6. Experience different cultures and education or training systems. A deeper understanding of other cultures can give you a more flexible approach to learning and working with people from different backgrounds. 7. EU programmes make it easy to study somewhere else – and transfer back credits without losing any time or work. 8. No age barrier. You can study almost anything, anywhere, at any time in any European country that takes part in the Socrates programme and be guaranteed that your qualifications will be recognised in all member states.

Europass – recording your experience abroad

If you are following a course of learning, at whatever level, that is part work-based and includes a period abroad, then you can have it recorded in a Europass Training document. In this document, the organisations involved in your course will describe (in up to three languages) what you have done. The Europass Training document is not a diploma, but it provides an objective record of your experience and makes it easier to show potential employers what you have achieved.

If you would like a Europass Training document, ask your school or company to obtain one for you from the national contact point in your country. More information is available at europa.eu.int/comm/ education/programmes/europass/index_en.html

16 Finding a job – opportunities on a continental scale

The freedom to move around in EURES (EURopean Employment Europe is for workers too. Whatever Services) is a network that brings your experience and skills, there are together the European Commission, job opportunities for you throughout the public employment services in the European Union, provided you Europe and other bodies such as trade speak the language well enough. unions, employers’ organisations and local and regional authorities. EURES Thanks to changes in EU law, aims to inform, advise and assist Euro- qualifications gained in one EU pean citizens who want to work in an- country are recognised in others, and other country, and to help employers re- workers have EU-wide rights to social cruit from abroad. protection and welfare. So there are no hidden pitfalls to switching jobs and countries.

A job abroad is a great employment opportunity. Your career as well as As a vet, her your personal life can be enriched by qualifications are the experience. Living and working in recognised wherever she another culture and language is goes in the EU. stimulating, educational and yields many gains. EURES – A service for the mobile job seeker

Probably the easiest way to find a job in another European country is to go to the European Union’s job mobility portal europa.eu.int/eures. Over the past two years, one million European citizens have used this ‘first step’ service to find a job in Europe. © Eureka Slide

17 It’s your Europe

There are over 500 EURES advisers, In addition to the jobs database there located throughout the EU and is a CV search database. Job seekers beyond. They have a database can use it to make their CVs available containing information about the to a wide range of employers, who living and working conditions in each will then directly contact suitable country, labour markets, accommoda- applicants. For small and medium- tion, education, cost of living, health, sized businesses looking for specific social legislation, taxation, training know-how, EURES offers a personal opportunities, comparability of qualifi- service to access the potential cations, etc. available in the European labour market. EURES has also helped big For research opportunities abroad, companies in their recruitment see the fifth chapter of this booklet. campaigns. Breaking down barriers on Writing your curriculum vitae the borders You should draw up a clear, well- EURES has a particularly important structured curriculum vitae, targeted role to play in cross-border regions. at the specific job you want. You People who live in one country and should also get it translated into the work in another have to cope with host country language, together with different national practices and legal your qualifications. Consider using systems. They may come across the standard European curriculum administrative, legal or tax obstacles vitae, described in the box. to mobility on a daily basis. Cross- border EURES advisers help to find Working in Europe – so many practical solutions to these problems opportunities and customise their services to the needs of regional customers. In all EU countries there are job vacancies waiting to be filled by Job and CV databases people with the right skills, from anywhere in the EU – or even from To match up the needs of job seekers outside it. So check out the and employers, EURES has developed opportunities and broaden your a jobs database that lists selected horizons. vacancies available throughout Europe. This database is available for all on the EURES web site. Employers can use it to advertise their vacancies in up to 17 countries. Likewise, job seekers can search for employment in any one of these countries.

18 Working in Copenhagen today: where tomorrow? The choice is endless...

Your CV for the Europe-wide job market

Whether you are seeking learning opportunities or work, the European curricu- lum vitae will enable you to present your competences and qualifications more clearly. The European CV gives a comprehensive, standardised overview of your educational attainments and work experience.

The European CV provides information on: • language competences; • work experience; • education and training background; • additional skills and competence acquired outside formal training schemes.

The CV format is available in 13 languages, and can be downloaded from www.cedefop.eu.int/transparency/cv.asp.

The ‘certificate supplement’ gives a detailed description of the skills and com- petences gained during your vocational training. In every EU country plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, an information centre (known as a ‘national reference point’) will give you information on the vocational education and train- ing system, and can supply certificate supplements in the language you need.

19 It’s your Europe

Research – think European

Europe has a proud tradition of Framework programme scientific excellence and technological innovation, and it is still among the The EU’s sixth framework programme world leaders. But in order to maintain for research (2003–06) aims to or increase its lead, Europe must invest integrate research throughout the EU. heavily in research and put its best brains together. So the EU is busy removing For information on the programme see the walls that separate its national europa.eu.int/comm/research/ research communities - creating a single fp6/index_en.html ‘European research area’ in which scientists can move around freely and For general information on research in work closely together. the EU see europa.eu.int/comm/ research

Information on research programmes and projects is at www.cordis.lu/en/ home.html. The pan-European researcher’s mobility portal

As a research worker in Europe you will probably want to take advantage of the new opportunities for international mobility. But what opportunities and grants are actually available?

What about visa requirements, access to employment, social security rights, tax laws and the cultural aspects of moving to another country?

To help you find all the information you need, the European Commission has provided a pan-European researcher’s mobility portal. Online since June 2003 at europa.eu.int/eracareers/ index_en.cfm, it is intended to encompass all EU member states – both present and future. Shared scientific knowledge is the key to progress and growth. © Comstock.com

20 The portal provides: Women and science

• general information about research Not enough women work in the field grants; of scientific research. The EU’s ‘Women and science’ initiative seeks •details of job offers and available to rectify this imbalance by promoting opportunities, including a jobs women’s participation in Europe-wide database and a CV search database; research.

• information about visa requirements, For more information see social security and tax arrangements, europa.eu.int/comm/research/ etc. as well as the cultural and science-society/women-science/ family-related aspects of moving to women-science_en.html. another country; The future is yours • general information about research policy issues; Research is the key to Europe’s future. As a research scientist, the key is in • a forum and other services of interest your hands. Your talent, your to mobile research workers. expertise and your personal mobility are all vital in opening the doors – to In addition, from autumn 2003, you your own future too. have free access to a Europe-wide customised help desk service, provided by the European network of mobility centres. These centres give you personal assistance with all the aspects of your move to another country, including practical informa- tion on housing, schooling, day-care facilities and language courses.

Wanted: women

researchers. © Royalty-Free/Van Parys Media

21 It’s your Europe Go for it!

The EU now offers freedoms and By the sea, perhaps, or somewhere chances for mobility that previous you can indulge your passion for hill generations of Europeans could only walking or nature watching. dream of. Long gone are the days Somewhere your grandchildren would when most people stayed in the town love to spend their holidays... The EU or village where they grew up. There has done a lot to make the move is now no more reason to stay in your simple. home country than in your home town. Perhaps it will never be as easy for Europeans to move from one EU Home can be anywhere in Europe, at country to another as it is for US any age and for any purpose: citizens to move from one state to volunteering, study, training, work... another. But it is getting easier all the Retirement too. Why not consider time and it can be very rewarding. spending your retirement years in another country? Europe means opportunities: take them! Home can be anywhere in Europe, at any age. © Royalty-Free/Van Parys Media

22 The European Union

Member States of the European Union New Member States due to join in 2004

Candidate countries Situation: spring 2003 Other information on the European Union

Information in all the official languages of the European Union is available on the Internet. You can access it through the Europa server: europa.eu.int

All over Europe there are hundreds of local EU information centres. You can can find the address of the centre nearest you at this web site: europa.eu.int/comm/relays/index_en.htm

EUROPE DIRECT is a service which answers your questions about the European Union. You can contact this service by freephone: 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 (or by payphone from outside the EU:+32-2-299 96 96), or by electronic mail via europa.eu.int/europedirect You can also obtain information and booklets in English about the European Union from :

EUROPEAN COMMISSION EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT REPRESENTATIONS OFFICES

Representation in Ireland Office in Ireland 18 Dawson Street European Union House Dublin 2 43 Molesworth Street Tel. (353-1) 634 11 11 Dublin 2 Fax (353-1) 634 11 12 Tel. (353-1) 605 79 00 Internet: www.euireland.ie Fax (353-1) 605 79 99 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.europarl.eu.int E-mail: [email protected] Representation in the United Kingdom Jean Monnet House United Kingdom Office 8 Storey’s Gate 2 Queen Anne’s Gate London SW1P 3AT London SW1H 9AA Tel. (44-20) 79 73 19 92 Tel. (44-20) 72 27 43 00 Fax (44-20) 79 73 19 00/10 Fax (44-20) 72 27 43 02 Internet: www.cec.org.uk Internet: www.europarl.eu.int/uk E-mail: [email protected] Representation in Wales 2 Caspian Point, Caspian Way Office in Scotland Cardiff CF10 4QQ The Tun, 4 Jackson’s Entry, Holyrood Road, Tel. (44-29) 20 89 50 20 Edinburgh EH8 8PJ Fax (44-29) 20 89 50 35 Tel. (44-131) 557 78 66 Internet: www.cec.org.uk Fax (44-131) 557 49 77 Internet: www.europarl.org.uk Representation in Scotland E-mail: [email protected] 9 Alva Street Edinburgh EH2 4PH Tel. (44-131) 225 20 58 Fax (44 131) 226 41 05 Internet: www.cec.org.uk

Representation in Northern Ireland Windsor House 9/15 Bedford Street Belfast BT2 7EG Tel. (44-28) 90 24 07 08 Fax (44-28) 90 24 82 41 Internet: www.cec.org.uk

Information services in the United States 2300 M Street, NW - 3rd floor Washington DC 20037 Tel. (202) 862 95 00 Fax (202) 429 17 66 Internet: www.eurunion.org

305 East 47th Street 3 Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza New York, NY 10017 Tel. (212) 371 38 04 Fax (212) 688 10 13 Internet: www.eurunion.org There are European Commission and Parliament representations and offices in all the countries of the European Union. The European Commission also has delegations in other parts of the world.