The main EU information networks

There are currently many official EU networks providing information about the Union, most of which are supported by the European Commission. Most are EU-wide; some are specific to one or more Member States. The major networks common to all Member States are:

Europe Direct, targeting a general audience (with both a central contact point and outlets throughout the Member States);
European Documentation Centres (EDCs), primarily for those learning or teaching in higher education institutions (EDCs are now part of the Europe Direct initiative);
the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), aimed at the business community (SMEs).

The development of EU information networks

In 1963 the first European Documentation Centres (EDCs) were created, to promote the study of European integration. EDCs were initially located in the six Member States, with new Centres being opened elsewhere as other countries joined the Communities. Similar Centres were also set up in non-Member countries, to promote greater international understanding of the Communities (these now include the European Union Centers of Excellence in the United States).

To complement EDCs, small collections of official materials known as European Reference Centres (ERCs) were established in educational institutions below university level.

European Depository Libraries (known as DEPs) were set up to ensure that comprehensive collections would be available to a wider audience. For many years, EDCs, ERCs and DEPs were the prime sources of European information (although the national offices of the Commission and Parliament also handled enquiries).

In the late 1980s and during the 1990s there was an explosion of EU information provision, with the European Court of Auditors reporting in 1995 the existence of 54 networks associated with the Commission (the ECA commented ‘It is not certain that they are all necessary and that they operate satisfactorily’).

1987 saw the launch of the first Euro Info Centres (EICs). Significantly expanded in 1989, EICs were intended to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) understand and respond to the Single Market programme.

1990 saw the Carrefours network created to serve rural communities and the Euro Citizen Action Service (ECAS) established to advise citizens' associations. European Consumer Infocentres (Euroguichets) were piloted in 1991.

Innovation Relay Centres (IRCs) were created in 1992, to encourage enterprises to participate in EU funded research and development programmes. 1992 also saw the EIC network expand into non-EU countries, with the creation of the Euro Info Correspondence Centres.

The Symbiosis network, intended to promote the 'People's Europe' side of the Single Market, was trumpeted in 1992, but quietly disappeared soon after it was launched.

In 1994, the Representation of the European Commission in the UK launched the Public Information Relays (PIRs; later renamed European Public Information Centres - EPICs), to make EU information and materials widely available via the public library network (and to relieve the Representation of a huge number of ‘European’ enquiries received from the public).

Europe Direct (which took its name from an earlier initiative) was launched in 2005, although the UK chose not to join the network until 2006. Members of the Europe Direct network both offer and promote EU information to the general public in their area, whilst a central enquiry point offers a wide-ranging information service via telephone and e-mail. EDCs are now officially part of the Europe Direct network.

A list of official EU information providers in the UK is available via the Europe in the UK website; services elsewhere can be found via the Europe Direct website.

In 2008, EICs and IRCs were combined to form a new Enterprise Europe Network (EEN).