The European Information Association is a focus of expertise on EU information

We started life in the pre-internet age, when simply finding official EU documents could be a difficult task.

We brought together people with resources and expertise and those who sought them. Although it is now generally true that access to EU information is no longer the barrier it once was, ignorance of the EU remains a problem.

The Association has no corporate view on whether the EU is a Good Thing or a Bad Thing. We do, however, believe that ignorance about the Union and how it works is detrimental to sensible discussion about EU issues. more ...

Commission should be more political

Writing on the theme 'Communicating Europe: Is the EU getting through to you?', Conor Slowey - a final year student of Law and Politics at Queen’s University Belfast - argues that the European Commission should use the mainstream media to create awareness of its policies and to spark debates on them.

Responding to the news that he’d won the £200 prize in this new EIA and Europe Direct Leeds competition, Conor said: ‘As a citizen, I'd like to see more engagement from the Commission in the mainstream media - I think that a more political Commission that fights its corner on today's big issues would reach more people and make European politics and issues more relevant to people's lives.’

The judging panel thought that the best three essays in this new competition were submitted by:
Conor Slowey, Queen’s University Belfast (First)
Nathan Woodcock, University of Leicester (Second)
Ana Catarina Marques da Silva, University of Coimbra (Third)

Friday 26 February 2010, London

Two new half-day courses presented by our experienced trainers Grace Hudson and Ian Mayfield will look at recent changes to how the EU works and where to find information about them.
Lisbon changes (morning) will highlight the main developments in the EU institutions and decision-making processes brought about by the new Treaty, including the advent of the General court, use of ‘Union law’ vs ‘Community law’, and extension of the ‘ordinary legislative procedure’.
Europa changes (afternoon) will provide expert advice on navigating the new Europa website and its subsites, such as EUR-Lex and Eurostat.
Delegates can attend one session or both. Prices for EIA members are £90 half day, £140 full day; non-member prices are £125 and £175 respectively.
Details of both courses are given in the draft programmes.

22 March, British Library, London

Our 2010 annual meeting will take place at the British Library on Monday 22 March. The day will include presentations on what to expect from the new EU, developments in EU information, and the Commission's information priorities.
We'll also be presenting the EIA Awards and holding our AGM.
Free to EIA Members, the event will cost non-members £30. Places are limited; to book please mail eric@eia.org.uk or complete the form
(NB we reserve the right to charge a £30 administration fee to anyone booking but not attending, unless we receive notice by 12 March.)

For more details, see the draft programme.

7 May 2010, London

The Association is running a one-off course on EU Funding, on behalf of the European Commission Representation in the UK. A programme and booking form are on the Commission website.

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Unique resource

The Central Library is the European Commission's ‘institutional memory’, according to an independent evaluation carried out by consultants Ecotec. The Library functions as a lending library, as the custodian of a unique resource relating to European integration, as an electronic information service, as a technical and skills hub at the core of the network of Commission Libraries, and as the builder of a catalogue of resources that aims to maximise the coverage of material produced across the extensive activities of the European Commission.

It is at the core of the RéseauBib network of libraries and information centres, providing them with leadership, support, and advice on library management, acquisition and documentation of resources, and disseminating information and skills relating to new library developments.
The report can be accessed via the Eurolib website.

Visit us at twitter.com/euroinfo

Communication has been a significant issue for the Commission and other EU institutions since the Danes voted 'nej' to the Treaty on European Union in 1992.

Public criticism of the incomprehensible nature, not only of the Treaty text, but also of the structure, processes and policies of the Union, provided the impetus for a new information and communication policy, based on transparency and openness. Information was suddenly seen not only as something of interest to businesses and students, but to citizens generally.

The latest manifestation of the Union's information and communication policy is 'Communicating Europe in Partnership' - a joint Parliament, Council, Commission initiative which recognises 'that communicating on the European Union requires a political commitment of EU Institutions and Member States, and that Member States have their responsibility to communicate with citizens about the EU. more ...