EU Resources
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 linkdumpsA-Z Index of EU linksEurActiv policy news and links European Commission in the UK near-comprehensive EU links portal EU statisticsKeele University EU resources University of Exeter European information pageUniversity of California Berkeley EU links pageUniversity of Pittsburgh Archive of EU Integration
Useful resourcesEuromyths A-ZHouse of Commons European Scrutiny Select Committee ReportsBBC EU Jargon GlossaryAcquis CommunautaireAmsterdam TreatyCharter of Fundamental RightsCloser Co-operationCommon Agricultural PolicyConvergence CriteriaCouncil of EuropeCouncil of MinistersEcosocEcuEMUEnlargementERMEuroEuropean Central BankEuropean CouncilEuropean Court of AuditorsEuropean Court of Human RightsEuropean Court of JusticeEuropean CommissionEuropean ParliamentEuropean UnionIGCMaastrict TreatyParis TreatyPresidencyQualified Majority VotingRapid Reaction ForceSchengen AgreementSingle MarketSocial EuropeTreaty of RomeUnanimityVetoVoting Rights
Organisations Examined/ExplainedBBC - EU Institutions pageEuropean UnionMember StatesEuropean Parliament
What the European Parliament DoesEuropean CommissionCouncil of MinistersEuropean Council
Council of EuropeEuropean Court of JusticeEuropean Court of AuditorsEuropean Court of Auditors WebsiteEuropean Court of Human RightsEuropean Central BankEuropean Central Bank websiteEuropean Economic AreaEuropean Free Trade AssociationTerminology Examined/ExplainedEU DirectiveEU Regulation
EU RecommendationEU Decision
Codecision procedureConsultation procedureCo-operation procedureAssent ProcedureIssues Examined/ExplainedEU LawEU EconomyThe EuroTreaty of RomeMaastricht TreatyTreaty of AmsterdamTreaty of NiceLisbon StrategyLisbon Strategy (detailed)Common Agricultural PolicyCAP Reform 2004-2010Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European UnionEU EnlargementDemocracy and Accountability and the Role of National ParliamentsEuroscepticismEurophiliaEU ConstitutionEuropa - EU constitutionKey Constitutional ChangesEU Constitution handy hyperlinked versionWikipedia - EU constitutional treaty"Reader friendly" version from Eurosceptic site "EUABC"University of Zaragoza's EU Constitution history siteEU Constitution GlossaryPro-EU European Policy Centre Constitution pagesA selection of articles and opinions on the constitutionThe Eu constitution - where member states standThe 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 GoodsChapter 2: Free Movement for PersonsChapter 3: Freedom to Provide ServicesChapter 4: Free Movement of CapitalChapter 5: Company LawChapter 6: Competition PolicyChapter 7: AgricultureChapter 8: FisheriesChapter 9: Transport PolicyChapter 10: TaxationChapter 11: EMUChapter 12: StatisticsChapter 13: Employment & Social PolicyChapter 14: EnergyChapter 15: Industrial PolicyChapter 16: SMEsChapter 17: Science and ResearchChapter 18: Education and TrainingChapter 19: Telecommunications and ITChapter 20: Culture and Audiovisual PolicyChapter 21: Regional Policy and Co-ordinationChapter 22: EnvironmentChapter 23: Consumers and Health ProtectionChapter 24: Justice and Home AffairsChapter 25: Customs UnionChapter 26: External RelationsChapter 27: Common Foreign and Security PolicyChapter 28: Financial ControlChapter 29: Finance and Budgetary ProvisionsChapter 30: InstitutionsChapter 31: OtherEU AgenciesCommunity Plant Variety Office (CPVO)
- Administers plant variety rights, a specific form of industrial property rights relating to new plant varieties, across the EUEuropean 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 EuropeEuropean 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 issuesEuropean Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
- Acts as a monitoring and advisory body on aviation safety standards across the EUEuropean 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 practiceEuropean Police College (CEPOL)
- Aimed at increasing cooperation between European police forces in fighting crime, preventing delinquency and maintaining law and orderEuropean 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 powersEuropean Environment Agency (EEA)
- Promotes sustainable development and provides information on environmental issues to policy makers and the publicEuropean Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
- Provides independent scientific advice on food safety issues for producers and consumersEuropean Foundation for the Improvement of Living And Working Conditions (Dublin Foundation)
- Provides guidance and advice to social policy makers on living and working conditionsEuropean 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 CanadaEuropean 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 projectsEuropean 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 capitalEurojust
- Works to enhance co-operation and co-ordination between national investigation and prosecution authorities on matters of organised crimeEuropean 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 legislationEuropean Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA)
- Collects and disseminates information on drugs and drug addiction in EuropeEuropean 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 groupsEuropean Ombudsman
- Deals with complaints of maladministration by EU institutions from EU citizensEuropean 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 legislationEuropean Training Foundation (ETF)
- A centre of expertise for the development of training and skills in the EUOffice for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (OHIM)
- Manages and provides information on trade mark regulations across the EUTranslation Centre for Bodies in the European Union
- Coordinates translation services for the other EU agencies
Best of
7th July 2005 London terror attack liveblog
- live coverage of the London bombs, from "what was that bang?" right through. The coverage that made Europhobia the most visited British blog on 7th July.
94 years of equivocation and "the Eastenders factor"- The case for a meritocratic House of Lords
A bit of over-the-top historical/constitutional pedantry- How the British government glorifies and condones terrorism merely by existing
Blair government gives two fingers to the constitution- Tony's contempt for the rule of law in his attempts to preserve our way of life
British vs American responses to terrorism- Written in November 2004, my views haven't changed following the events of July 2005
Constitutional changes: what it means- An overview of the (now defunct) EU constitution
The delights of the British constitution- underlining just how little protection we have from the whims of the state
The EU constitution and democracy- The confusion of terms, the ongoing arguments over accountability and the future of the EU
The Eu and Tony Blair, the ineffectual loser- Blair's abject failure in dealing with the European Union
The European Commission - more democratic than the US presidency?- A jokey piece with a serious point about the perennial "the EU isn't democratic enough" claims
Honest debate has become impossible- The difficulties of terminology and engagement in discussions about the EU, and an attack on both the "No" and "Yes" campaigns
It's for your own good, you know...- Detention without trial - a rant
Magna Carta and Civil Liberties- an attempt to clear up some confusion about Britain's nonexistent "age-old rights", with some lengthy and interesting discussion in the comments
My ignorance and degenerate motivations- Why I am pro-EU
Nations Reunitied?- UN reform: where next?
North Korea - just a tad bit mental- Possible outcomes of a North Korean bomb, and why it's lose-lose for the US
Nosemonkey's General Election Liveblogging Extravaganza!- from close of polls until 8am, a booze-fuelled ramble through the delights of the 2005 UK General Election
Our government is trying to screw us while we're not looking- How the Blair government is planning to bypass parliament to impose its repressive laws
A Post Mortem- The 2005 UK General Election - an immediate response and analysis
The press, politics and the bloggosphere- Supposed press bias, overblown arguments and the need for rational and calm debate
The problems of the EU debate- The difficulties of the details and the need for a broader view
Sovereignty- The flaws of the nation state and the need for a supranational constitution
Thank the Lord for the Lords- How an undemocratic chamber can save democracy from itself. For a bit, at least...
Tony versus Terrorism- An off-the-cuff response to Tony Blair's proposed anti-terror legislation in the wake of the July 2005 London bombs
(this got me invited to go on CNN, but I irritatingly had to say no...)UK Blogging: officially a pointless waste of everyone's time- Why political blogging, and especially UK political blogging, is shit
Unprecedented gathering; 175 nations represented- Nosemonkey's growing disillusionment with the United Nations
US elections - EU implications- Why Bush could be better for the EU (written before the 2004 US Presidential elections, and by now demonstrated to be largely wishful thinking)
