European information: a guide to official sources Fourth edition Written by Patrick Overy EDC Librarian and Academic Support Consultant for Business and Law University of Exeter This edition revised by Eric Davies European Information Association © Patrick Overy and Eric Davies, 2010 Published in the United Kingdom by European Information Association PO Box 28, Mold, Flintshire, CH7 6FE www.eia.org.uk All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form, without permission Contents Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................... 5 1. THE EUROPEAN INSTITUTIONS ................................................................................................................... 6 The Council of the European Union .................................................................................................................. 6 The European Council and the Presidency ...................................................................................................... 6 European Parliament ........................................................................................................................................ 7 European Commission ....................................................................................................................................10 European Economic and Social Committee ...................................................................................................10 Committee of the Regions ..............................................................................................................................11 Court of Auditors .............................................................................................................................................11 Court of Justice ...............................................................................................................................................11 European Communities Personnel Selection Office .......................................................................................12 European Ombudsman ...................................................................................................................................12 European Data Protection Supervisor ............................................................................................................12 European Investment Bank .............................................................................................................................13 European Bank for Reconstruction and Development ...................................................................................13 European Monetary Institute ...........................................................................................................................13 European Central Bank ...................................................................................................................................13 2. EUROPEAN COMMISSION DIRECTORATES-GENERAL: PUBLICATIONS AND WEBSITES ..................14 Agriculture and Rural Development ................................................................................................................14 Budget .............................................................................................................................................................14 Civil Protection ................................................................................................................................................15 Climate Action .................................................................................................................................................15 Competition .....................................................................................................................................................15 Economic and Financial Affairs .......................................................................................................................16 Education and Culture ....................................................................................................................................16 Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities .....................................................................................17 Energy .............................................................................................................................................................17 Enterprise and Industry ...................................................................................................................................17 Environment ....................................................................................................................................................18 Health and Consumers ...................................................................................................................................18 Information Society and Media .......................................................................................................................19 Internal Market and Services ..........................................................................................................................19 Justice, Freedom and Security .......................................................................................................................19 Maritime Affairs and Fisheries ........................................................................................................................20 Mobility and Transport ....................................................................................................................................20 Regional policy ................................................................................................................................................20 Research .........................................................................................................................................................21 Taxation and Customs Union ..........................................................................................................................22 Transport .........................................................................................................................................................22 Development ...................................................................................................................................................22 Enlargement ....................................................................................................................................................23 External Relations ...........................................................................................................................................23 External Trade.................................................................................................................................................23 Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection ............................................................................................................24 3. EUROPEAN AGENCIES ................................................................................................................................25 Regulatory agencies .......................................................................................................................................25 Executive agencies .........................................................................................................................................29 Other agencies ................................................................................................................................................29 4. JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS (JHA) ..........................................................................................................31 The Schengen Agreement ..............................................................................................................................31 Asylum and immigration ..................................................................................................................................33 Police cooperation ..........................................................................................................................................34 European private law ......................................................................................................................................34 Cooperation in judicial, civil and criminal matters ...........................................................................................35 Fundamental Rights ........................................................................................................................................36 Data protection ................................................................................................................................................37 Online sources ................................................................................................................................................37 5. COMMON FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY (CFSP) ..............................................................................39 European Political Cooperation (EPC) ...........................................................................................................39