In a European Union based on the member states, the intergovernmental European Council and the Council, part legislative and part executive, are the most important tandem in the “institutional triangle”, which includes the European Commission and the European Parliament.
For those, who want to know more than most general EU textbooks offer, the Council has published: An introduction to the Council of the European Union (2008; 68 pages).
The Introduction, which rejects the description of the Council as intergovernmental and sees it as a supranational institution, is available on the Council’s web pages and at the EU Bookshop.
The Contents of the Introduction offer a picture of what the publication is about:
Chapter 1 - The Council and the people working in it
A profile
Chapter 2 - The special role of the European Council
The EU’s helmsman
Chapter 3 - The Council at work
The Council as a legislative body
Chapter 4 - In partnership
The Council’s relations with the other European Union institutions and bodies
Chapter 5 - Promoting prosperity and preserving peace
The Council’s role in external relations
Chapter 6 - Supporting growth and employment
The Council and economic policy
Chapter 7 - Establishing an area of freedom, security and justice
The Council’s role in justice and home affairs
Chapter 8 - Looking to the future
***
As a public relations brochure, the Introduction to the Council of the European Union is somewhat Panglossian in style, but it presents the facts correctly and the language is accessible for general readers.
Ralf Grahn
Showing posts with label EU Bookshop. Show all posts
Showing posts with label EU Bookshop. Show all posts
Friday, 10 July 2009
Saturday, 4 July 2009
Vacation or business: Travelling in Europe 2009
Whether you are heading for your vacation destination or travelling for business purposes, the 11 page brochure Travelling in Europe 2009 is worth a glance. Available at the EU Bookshop.
Travelling in Europe 2009 offers brief information about needed documents (Schengen), money (the euro), approximate exchange rates, cash withdrawals, bank transfers, shopping (tobacco and alcohol), consumer protection, driving licence, car insurance, driving safety, air passenger rights, airport security, rail transport, access to healthcare and the European health insurance card, travel insurance, medicines, immunisation, bathing water, languages, country codes, mobile phones (roaming), postage stamps, electricity, tourist information, weather, time zones (summer time), pets, emergency number 112, national tourist information sites, EU information and basic statistics.
The brochure serves both EU citizens and visitors from third countries.
Indirectly, Travelling in Europe 2009 gives a number of answers to the question: What has Europe ever done for me?
Ralf Grahn
Travelling in Europe 2009 offers brief information about needed documents (Schengen), money (the euro), approximate exchange rates, cash withdrawals, bank transfers, shopping (tobacco and alcohol), consumer protection, driving licence, car insurance, driving safety, air passenger rights, airport security, rail transport, access to healthcare and the European health insurance card, travel insurance, medicines, immunisation, bathing water, languages, country codes, mobile phones (roaming), postage stamps, electricity, tourist information, weather, time zones (summer time), pets, emergency number 112, national tourist information sites, EU information and basic statistics.
The brochure serves both EU citizens and visitors from third countries.
Indirectly, Travelling in Europe 2009 gives a number of answers to the question: What has Europe ever done for me?
Ralf Grahn
EU: Consumers in Europe 2009
The 2009 edition of the Eurostat publication Consumers in Europe is available at the EU Bookshop.
The abstract of the 382 page Consumers in Europe 2009 offers a view of the contents of this fourth edition, useful for businesses and policy makers:
The 2009 edition of Consumers in Europe presents a comprehensive set of data and related information concerning consumer markets and consumer protection issues within the European Union. The aim of the publication is to bring together the most relevant and useful information for the evaluation and development of consumer policy, not only as a tool for policy-makers, but also for those interested in end-markets and consumer affairs, such as representative organisations, public authorities, or suppliers of goods and services. Much of the data that has been used will feed into the consumer markets scoreboard which has been designed to monitor outcomes in the single market and to make European Union policy in this area more responsive to the expectations and concerns of consumers.
The publication starts with an overview of the single market from the consumer’s perspective, presenting a profi le of European consumers and the retail network, as well as issues relating to access and choice, before looking at key indicators for consumption and prices. The overview also presents information on consumer satisfaction, the quality and safety of goods and services, as well consumer representation and protection.
The remainder of the publication is devoted to 12 specific consumer markets (for example, food and non-alcoholic beverages, housing, transport, or recreation and culture); each chapter covers one top-level heading within the classification of individual consumption by purpose (COICOP), the main classification used to provide detailed data on consumer prices, price levels and consumption expenditure. The chapters are structured in a similar manner to the overview, in an attempt to present harmonised data and a range of key indicators that may be compared across the publication.
***
Consumer policy
The introduction on Consumer policy (from page 11) presents the Commission’s main objectives concerning consumers:
• to empower EU consumers so they make more informed choices and thus boost competition and competitiveness;
• to enhance EU consumers’ welfare in terms of price, choice, quality, diversity, affordability and safety;
• to protect consumers eff ectively from the serious risks and threats that they cannot tackle as individuals.
The publication then presents the principal aims of the EU Consumer Policy Strategy 2007-2013 (COM(2007) 99 final), as well as monitoring and consumer protection.
***
12 consumer markets
After an overview, a considerable part of the publication is devoted to 12 specific consumer markets:
• food and nonalcoholic beverages;
• alcoholic beverages and tobacco;
• clothing and footwear;
• housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels;
• furnishings, household equipment and maintenance;
• health;
• transport;
• communications;
• recreation and culture;
• education; hotels,
• cafes and restaurants;
• miscellaneous goods and services)
Ralf Grahn
The abstract of the 382 page Consumers in Europe 2009 offers a view of the contents of this fourth edition, useful for businesses and policy makers:
The 2009 edition of Consumers in Europe presents a comprehensive set of data and related information concerning consumer markets and consumer protection issues within the European Union. The aim of the publication is to bring together the most relevant and useful information for the evaluation and development of consumer policy, not only as a tool for policy-makers, but also for those interested in end-markets and consumer affairs, such as representative organisations, public authorities, or suppliers of goods and services. Much of the data that has been used will feed into the consumer markets scoreboard which has been designed to monitor outcomes in the single market and to make European Union policy in this area more responsive to the expectations and concerns of consumers.
The publication starts with an overview of the single market from the consumer’s perspective, presenting a profi le of European consumers and the retail network, as well as issues relating to access and choice, before looking at key indicators for consumption and prices. The overview also presents information on consumer satisfaction, the quality and safety of goods and services, as well consumer representation and protection.
The remainder of the publication is devoted to 12 specific consumer markets (for example, food and non-alcoholic beverages, housing, transport, or recreation and culture); each chapter covers one top-level heading within the classification of individual consumption by purpose (COICOP), the main classification used to provide detailed data on consumer prices, price levels and consumption expenditure. The chapters are structured in a similar manner to the overview, in an attempt to present harmonised data and a range of key indicators that may be compared across the publication.
***
Consumer policy
The introduction on Consumer policy (from page 11) presents the Commission’s main objectives concerning consumers:
• to empower EU consumers so they make more informed choices and thus boost competition and competitiveness;
• to enhance EU consumers’ welfare in terms of price, choice, quality, diversity, affordability and safety;
• to protect consumers eff ectively from the serious risks and threats that they cannot tackle as individuals.
The publication then presents the principal aims of the EU Consumer Policy Strategy 2007-2013 (COM(2007) 99 final), as well as monitoring and consumer protection.
***
12 consumer markets
After an overview, a considerable part of the publication is devoted to 12 specific consumer markets:
• food and nonalcoholic beverages;
• alcoholic beverages and tobacco;
• clothing and footwear;
• housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels;
• furnishings, household equipment and maintenance;
• health;
• transport;
• communications;
• recreation and culture;
• education; hotels,
• cafes and restaurants;
• miscellaneous goods and services)
Ralf Grahn
Friday, 27 March 2009
EU Guidelines: Human Rights & Humanitarian Law
The European Union publishes a lot of useful information for students of politics, law and economics, as well as other interested EU citizens.
Many of the publications are available at the EU Bookshop in printed or digital form (pdf):
http://bookshop.europa.eu
I would like to draw attention to a recent publication issued by the Council of the European Union (General Secretariat of the Council) ‘EU Guidelines Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law’ (March 2009; 89 pages).
The publication is downloadable for free in English and French (Lignes directrices Droits de l’homme et Droit International Humanitaire).
The Guidelines serve not only international EU missions, but they contain a wealth of information useful for students, teachers, researchers and others interested in the human rights and humanitarian law.
Here is a look at the contents:
1. Death Penalty (1998) (updated on 2008)
2. Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (2001) (updated on 2008)
3. Human Rights dialogues with third countries (2001) (updated on 2009)
4. Children and armed conflict (2003) (updated on 2008)
5. Human Rights Defenders (2004) (updated on 2008)
6. Promotion and Protection of the Rights of the Child (2007)
7. Violence against women and girls and combating all forms of discrimination against them (2008)
8. Promoting Compliance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL) (2005)
***
Death penalty
Because misleading information about the European Union is continuously spread on the web, I recommend that everyone unsure about the EU’s position reads the Guideline on the death penalty.
The conspiracy theorists repeating the ‘footnote within a footnote’ distortions are, I presume, beyond redemption.
Ralf Grahn
Many of the publications are available at the EU Bookshop in printed or digital form (pdf):
http://bookshop.europa.eu
I would like to draw attention to a recent publication issued by the Council of the European Union (General Secretariat of the Council) ‘EU Guidelines Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law’ (March 2009; 89 pages).
The publication is downloadable for free in English and French (Lignes directrices Droits de l’homme et Droit International Humanitaire).
The Guidelines serve not only international EU missions, but they contain a wealth of information useful for students, teachers, researchers and others interested in the human rights and humanitarian law.
Here is a look at the contents:
1. Death Penalty (1998) (updated on 2008)
2. Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (2001) (updated on 2008)
3. Human Rights dialogues with third countries (2001) (updated on 2009)
4. Children and armed conflict (2003) (updated on 2008)
5. Human Rights Defenders (2004) (updated on 2008)
6. Promotion and Protection of the Rights of the Child (2007)
7. Violence against women and girls and combating all forms of discrimination against them (2008)
8. Promoting Compliance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL) (2005)
***
Death penalty
Because misleading information about the European Union is continuously spread on the web, I recommend that everyone unsure about the EU’s position reads the Guideline on the death penalty.
The conspiracy theorists repeating the ‘footnote within a footnote’ distortions are, I presume, beyond redemption.
Ralf Grahn
Fact Sheets on the European Union 2009
The EU Bookshop has published the 2009 update of the Fact Sheets of the European Union (although the manuscript was finished in August 2008).
The 12th edition contains 165 fact sheets (subjects) aimed at the general public. The Fact Sheets (521 pages) are available as a freely downloadable pdf document (hefty 9.22 MB) or as a print publication with an accompanying CD-ROM (price 40 €):
http://bookshop.europa.eu/eubookshop/download.action?fileName=BAAA08001ENC_002.pdf&eubphfUid=10061951&catalogNbr=BA-AA-08-001-EN-C
If I understood correctly, the printed text (pdf) is available in six languages (English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Spanish) but the CD-ROM in 21 languages.
Since the Fact Sheets originate in the European Parliament, the EP’s role is usually described in each case in addition to the general information.
The Fact Sheets are handy when you need an overview of an unfamiliar area of EU policy. This is how they are described by the publisher:
The aim of these fact sheets is to provide those new to the subject with an overview of the process of European integration and the European Parliament’s role in this development.
New fact sheets on topical issues and the developments of the last few years have recently appeared online, for example: the institutional reforms undertaken in preparation for the accession of Bulgaria and Romania; the new financial perspective; gender equality; asylum, and immigration policy; management of external borders; judicial cooperation in civil and criminal matters; sports policy; the Lisbon strategy; the European neighbourhood policy (ENP); the South Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia) and central Asia.
With access to around 165 fact sheets, readers will find that this is one of the best sources of information about the Union’s institutions and policies.
The content of these fact sheets covers six main areas: how the EU works, citizens’ Europe, the internal market, common policies, economic and monetary union and the EU’s external relations.
In order to speak with one voice, the EU has developed several policies and measures that all Member States endeavour to apply. These ‘common policies’ concern the entire Union and are designed to achieve common objectives.
Economic and monetary union
Economic and monetary union (EMU) is the result of a long process aimed at harmonising the economic and monetary policies of the European Union Member States and introducing a single currency: the euro. So far, 16 Member States have adopted the euro, which is used on a daily basis by over half the EU’s population.
The EU’s external relations
The EU’s economic, commercial and financial weight makes it a leading player on the international scene. It has signed a series of bilateral and multilateral agreements with most countries and regions of the world. The common foreign and security policy (CFSP) is one of the instruments of the European Union’s external relations.
How the European Union works
The European Union (EU) has its own legislature and executive and an independent judiciary, which are supported and complemented by an additional set of institutions and bodies. The EU’s rules and decision-making procedures are laid down in the Treaties. In order to achieve its objectives, the Union has its own budget.
Citizens’ Europe
For EU citizens, the right to travel, live and work throughout the Union can easily be taken for granted. However, in order for them to be able to enjoy this right fully, an effective system to protect fundamental rights within the EU needs to be put in place and maintained.
The internal market
Following the dismantling of previous barriers, goods, services and capital move as freely throughout Europe as inside a Member State. The removal of obstacles and the opening up of national markets means that more companies can compete with one another.
***
The Fact Sheets are convenient for anyone who needs quick information, for a school or university assignment, but especially ahead of the European elections the MEP candidates and their campaign groups should have them available as reference tools for various occasions.
Ralf Grahn
The 12th edition contains 165 fact sheets (subjects) aimed at the general public. The Fact Sheets (521 pages) are available as a freely downloadable pdf document (hefty 9.22 MB) or as a print publication with an accompanying CD-ROM (price 40 €):
http://bookshop.europa.eu/eubookshop/download.action?fileName=BAAA08001ENC_002.pdf&eubphfUid=10061951&catalogNbr=BA-AA-08-001-EN-C
If I understood correctly, the printed text (pdf) is available in six languages (English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Spanish) but the CD-ROM in 21 languages.
Since the Fact Sheets originate in the European Parliament, the EP’s role is usually described in each case in addition to the general information.
The Fact Sheets are handy when you need an overview of an unfamiliar area of EU policy. This is how they are described by the publisher:
The aim of these fact sheets is to provide those new to the subject with an overview of the process of European integration and the European Parliament’s role in this development.
New fact sheets on topical issues and the developments of the last few years have recently appeared online, for example: the institutional reforms undertaken in preparation for the accession of Bulgaria and Romania; the new financial perspective; gender equality; asylum, and immigration policy; management of external borders; judicial cooperation in civil and criminal matters; sports policy; the Lisbon strategy; the European neighbourhood policy (ENP); the South Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia) and central Asia.
With access to around 165 fact sheets, readers will find that this is one of the best sources of information about the Union’s institutions and policies.
The content of these fact sheets covers six main areas: how the EU works, citizens’ Europe, the internal market, common policies, economic and monetary union and the EU’s external relations.
In order to speak with one voice, the EU has developed several policies and measures that all Member States endeavour to apply. These ‘common policies’ concern the entire Union and are designed to achieve common objectives.
Economic and monetary union
Economic and monetary union (EMU) is the result of a long process aimed at harmonising the economic and monetary policies of the European Union Member States and introducing a single currency: the euro. So far, 16 Member States have adopted the euro, which is used on a daily basis by over half the EU’s population.
The EU’s external relations
The EU’s economic, commercial and financial weight makes it a leading player on the international scene. It has signed a series of bilateral and multilateral agreements with most countries and regions of the world. The common foreign and security policy (CFSP) is one of the instruments of the European Union’s external relations.
How the European Union works
The European Union (EU) has its own legislature and executive and an independent judiciary, which are supported and complemented by an additional set of institutions and bodies. The EU’s rules and decision-making procedures are laid down in the Treaties. In order to achieve its objectives, the Union has its own budget.
Citizens’ Europe
For EU citizens, the right to travel, live and work throughout the Union can easily be taken for granted. However, in order for them to be able to enjoy this right fully, an effective system to protect fundamental rights within the EU needs to be put in place and maintained.
The internal market
Following the dismantling of previous barriers, goods, services and capital move as freely throughout Europe as inside a Member State. The removal of obstacles and the opening up of national markets means that more companies can compete with one another.
***
The Fact Sheets are convenient for anyone who needs quick information, for a school or university assignment, but especially ahead of the European elections the MEP candidates and their campaign groups should have them available as reference tools for various occasions.
Ralf Grahn
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