European Union

Centre for European Legal Studies

Website of the Centre for European Legal Studies (CELS) at the University of Cambridge. Gives information about the work of CELS and the projects it is concerned with. These cover European Union law and the individual legal systems of European countries. A brief description is given of their involvement with the British Centre for English Legal Studies at Warsaw University in Poland. The site includes details of the staff, management committee, advisory board and fellows of CELS and there is information relating to the centre's past and forthcoming conferences, seminars and lectures.

European Centre for Space Law

Website of the European Centre for Space Law (ECSL), a research organisation set up by the European Space Agency (ESA) in 1989 with the aim of "improving space law research, education and practice in Europe." ECSL's website has course information, publications and a newsletter. Also included are ESA laws and regulations, bibliographies and other information.

Statewatch Observatory In Defence of Freedom and Democracy: New Laws and Practices Affecting Civil Liberties and Rights After September 11

This site is maintained by civil rights organisation Statewatch. It provides a collection of useful links to full-text documents relating to changes in civil rights worldwide in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. These include legislation, directives, anti-terrorist measures and government proposals worldwide. There is a specialist section devoted to the reaction of the European Union. Topics covered include data protection and identity card schemes.

Council of the European Union

The Council of the European Union is the principal decision-making body of the EU. It is composed of government ministers from each member atate. The Council's website has a news section and pages devoted to key policy areas. The Documents and Publications section of the site includes an Agreements (treaties) Database and a register of internal documents. Information is provided about Council meetings; Inter-Governmental Conferences, the European Council; and current, past and future holders of the Presidency of the EU.

Community Plant Variety Office

The Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO) implements and applies the European Community's system for the protection of plant variety rights which "allows intellectual property rights, valid throughout the Community, to be granted for plant varieties". It has been operating since 1995 and is based at Angers in France. Its website gives details of its work; has a section containing the relevant legislation and published decisions of the CPVO's councils and boards of appeal. Application forms for plant variety rights can be downloaded.

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 release and YouTube 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, the integration of Bulgaria and Romania and relations between the Commission and other EU institutions.

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 which may be downloaded in PDF format, in both French and English. There is also a full list of papers published by the Centre, which may be ordered in printed format.

Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries

This is the website of the Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the European Union, which manages the EU fisheries policy and the integrated maritime policy. It links to microsites for fisheries and maritime affairs which include full-text policy documents, legislation, reports and other publications, press releases, speeches and funding opportunities. Some of the publications are downloadable as PDF files.

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