A collection of useful resources, which I plan to keep expanding – let me know if you’ve found any I’m missing:
Main Official websites
Europa portal
Europa search
European Commission
European Parliament
Council of Ministers
Other EU linkdumps
A-Z Index of EU links
EurActiv policy news and links
European Commission in the UK near-comprehensive EU links portal
EU statistics
Keele University EU resources
University of Exeter European information page
University of California Berkeley EU links page
University of Pittsburgh Archive of EU Integration
Useful resources
Euromyths A-Z
House of Commons European Scrutiny Select Committee Reports
BBC EU Jargon Glossary
Acquis Communautaire
Amsterdam Treaty
Charter of Fundamental Rights
Closer Co-operation
Common Agricultural Policy
Convergence Criteria
Council of Europe
Council of Ministers
Ecosoc
Ecu
EMU
Enlargement
ERM
Euro
European Central Bank
European Council
European Court of Auditors
European Court of Human Rights
European Court of Justice
European Commission
European Parliament
European Union
IGC
Maastrict Treaty
Paris Treaty
Presidency
Qualified Majority Voting
Rapid Reaction Force
Schengen Agreement
Single Market
Social Europe
Treaty of Rome
Unanimity
Veto
Voting Rights
Organisations Examined/Explained
BBC – EU Institutions page
European Union
Member States
European Parliament
What the European Parliament Does
European Commission
Council of Ministers
European Council
Council of Europe
European Court of Justice
European Court of Auditors
European Court of Auditors Website
European Court of Human Rights
European Central Bank
European Central Bank website
European Economic Area
European Free Trade Association
Terminology Examined/Explained
EU Directive
EU Regulation
EU Recommendation
EU Decision
Codecision procedure
Consultation procedure
Co-operation procedure
Assent Procedure
Issues Examined/Explained
EU Law
EU Economy
The Euro
Treaty of Rome
Maastricht Treaty
Treaty of Amsterdam
Treaty of Nice
Lisbon Strategy
Lisbon Strategy (detailed)
Common Agricultural Policy
CAP Reform 2004-2010
Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
EU Enlargement
Democracy and Accountability and the Role of National Parliaments
Euroscepticism
Europhilia
EU Constitution
Europa – EU constitution
Key Constitutional Changes
EU Constitution handy hyperlinked version
Wikipedia – EU constitutional treaty
“Reader friendly” version from Eurosceptic site “EUABC”
University of Zaragoza’s EU Constitution history site
EU Constitution Glossary
Pro-EU European Policy Centre Constitution pages
A selection of articles and opinions on the constitution
The Eu constitution – where member states stand
The EU acquis.
(The laws and rules adopted on the basis of the EU’s founding treaties – mostly Rome, Maastricht , Amsterdam and Nice)
Chapter 1: Free Movement of Goods
Chapter 2: Free Movement for Persons
Chapter 3: Freedom to Provide Services
Chapter 4: Free Movement of Capital
Chapter 5: Company Law
Chapter 6: Competition Policy
Chapter 7: Agriculture
Chapter 8: Fisheries
Chapter 9: Transport Policy
Chapter 10: Taxation
Chapter 11: EMU
Chapter 12: Statistics
Chapter 13: Employment & Social Policy
Chapter 14: Energy
Chapter 15: Industrial Policy
Chapter 16: SMEs
Chapter 17: Science and Research
Chapter 18: Education and Training
Chapter 19: Telecommunications and IT
Chapter 20: Culture and Audiovisual Policy
Chapter 21: Regional Policy and Co-ordination
Chapter 22: Environment
Chapter 23: Consumers and Health Protection
Chapter 24: Justice and Home Affairs
Chapter 25: Customs Union
Chapter 26: External Relations
Chapter 27: Common Foreign and Security Policy
Chapter 28: Financial Control
Chapter 29: Finance and Budgetary Provisions
Chapter 30: Institutions
Chapter 31: Other
EU Agencies
Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO)
– Administers plant variety rights, a specific form of industrial property rights relating to new plant varieties, across the EU
European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMEA)
– Coordinates the scientific resources of the EU states to ensure a high level of evaluation of medicines in Europe
European Agency for Health and Safety at Work (EU-OSHA)
– Promotes safety and health in the workplace, runs a network of Health and Safety websites, and publishes specialist information on Health and Safety issues
European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
– Acts as a monitoring and advisory body on aviation safety standards across the EU
European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP)
– A reference centre for vocational education and training, providing information on and analysis of vocational education and training systems, policies, research and practice
European Police College (CEPOL)
– Aimed at increasing cooperation between European police forces in fighting crime, preventing delinquency and maintaining law and order
European Committee of the Regions
– A representative assembly with the job of giving local and regional authorities a voice at the heart of the European Union. Its members are drawn from municipal and regional authorities in the member states. Gives opinions but does not have any formal powers
European Environment Agency (EEA)
– Promotes sustainable development and provides information on environmental issues to policy makers and the public
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
– Provides independent scientific advice on food safety issues for producers and consumers
European Foundation for the Improvement of Living And Working Conditions (Dublin Foundation)
– Provides guidance and advice to social policy makers on living and working conditions
European Institute for Security Studies (EUISS)
– Researches and monitors major security and defence issues, and promotes dialogue on all security issues between the EU and the United States and Canada
European Investment Bank (EIB)
– The EU’s financing institution. Contributes towards integration, balanced development and economic and social cohesion of member Countries. Also raises funds to help finance capital projects
European Investment Fund
– An offshoot of the European Investment Bank EIB) jointly owned by the EIB, the European Commission and 28 European banks and financial institutions. The Fund is the EIB’s specialised financial institution, responsible for looking after portfolio guarantees and venture capital
Eurojust
– Works to enhance co-operation and co-ordination between national investigation and prosecution authorities on matters of organised crime
European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA)
– Provides technical and scientific advice to the EU Commission on safety at sea and the prevention of pollution by ships and monitors the development and implementation of new maritime legislation
European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA)
– Collects and disseminates information on drugs and drug addiction in Europe
European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC)
– Provides information on racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism, and advises on action to combat such phenomena. Also recommends good practice regarding the integration of migrants and ethnic and religious minority groups
European Ombudsman
– Deals with complaints of maladministration by EU institutions from EU citizens
European Satellite Centre (EUSC)
– Processes information from satellite imagery in support of the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)
European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)
– An advisory/consultative body to the Commission, Council and Parliament on relations with employers’ organisations, trade unions, farmers, consumer groups and professional associations. The only way for these interest groups to have a formal say on draft EU legislation
European Training Foundation (ETF)
– A centre of expertise for the development of training and skills in the EU
Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (OHIM)
– Manages and provides information on trade mark regulations across the EU
Translation Centre for Bodies in the European Union
– Coordinates translation services for the other EU agencies