European Union

Council of the European Union

The Council of the European Union is the principal decision-making body of the EU, composed of government ministers from each member state. Its website gives details of Council meetings and European Council activities. The Documents section includes a register of internal documents, an Agreements Database (covering treaties), the EU Law Tracker (monitoring the progress of EU legislation) and the PRADO database of information about identity and travel documents. The Research section provides research papers and a collection of selected think tank publications.

Williams Powell

Willams Powell is a London-based firm of patent and trade mark attorneys. Their website gives a brief introduction to and definitions of patents, trade marks, design and copyright. General guidance is provided on filing a patent, writing a patent specification, patent searching and the likely costs involved. There is also advice on choosing and registering trade marks. Advice for overseas patent and trade mark attorneys is given on the site and brief guidance for people wishing to register patents or trade marks abroad.

European Anti-Fraud Office

The European Anti-Fraud Office, OLAF, was set up in 1999 to ensure the correct use of EU funds and to combat fraud. It also works to prevent counterfeiting of the Euro. The website has links to anti-fraud agencies in EU member states and worldwide; reports; press releases and videos. The site is available in all the official languages of the EU.

Secretariat-General of the European Commission

The function of the Secretariat-General (SG) is to support the work of the European Commission and its President. It oversees the correct application of EU laws and coordinates the activities of the Commission Directorates-General. The website includes information about the work of the European Commission and relations between the Commission and other EU institutions. SG publications are available, including its Annual Activity Report and the Commission's Work Programme. The site is available in the official EU languages.

Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies

The Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, Italy, is part of the European University Institute, and carries out research in Law, Economics, History and Civilisation, and Social and Political Sciences, focusing on European issues, in particular European integration. Its website gives details of current research activities and contains a number of publications and papers, in French and English, as well as news updates.

Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe

The Council of the Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) is the official representative body for the legal profession in the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA). It is also a Council of Europe consultative body. The website describes the CCBE's structure and work, lists its member bars and law societies and provides a directory of committee officers. The Documents section includes the Code of Conduct for European Lawyers and position papers on more than 25 subjects, ranging from access to justice and world trade to contract law and VAT.

Aarhus Convention

This page of the European Commission's Environment website is devoted to the Aarhus Convention of 1998, relating to the public right to information about official environmental policy. As well as the text of the Convention, the page provides an overview of the issues involved, EU implementing legislation, studies, details of conferences, news and guidance from the European Commission about access to information, consultation processes and access to justice. Users will also find a useful section covering concise summaries of European environmental policy and regulations.

European Union Network for the Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law

The European Union Network for the Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law (IMPEL) is an informal network of environmental authorities from the EU Member States and candidate countries, plus Norway. Set up in 1992, IMPEL aims to promote more effective application of legislation on the environment, particularly EU legislation. The site includes information about IMPEL's membership and activities and has a library of reports, presentations and other publications.
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