Free EU Council publications

The Council of the European Union publishes a number of useful publications on the web page Free Council publications.



Here are a few examples of fairly recent titles:

ESDP Newsletter – Issue 7 Winter 2009 (available in English and French)

Annual report from the Council to the European Parliament on the main aspects and basic choices of the CFSP – 2008 (available in 22 languages)

Council Annual report on access to documents - 2008 (available in 22 languages)

EU Guidelines Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law - March 2009 (available in English and French)

EU Annual Report on Human Rights 2008 (available in English, French and German)

The European Union Strategy against the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (available in English and French)

Mainstreaming Human Rights and Gender into European Security and Defence Policy (in English)

Extract from the Interinstitutional Directory - January 2008 (in English and French)

An introduction to the Council of the European Union - 2008 (available in 22 languages)

THE AFRICA-EUROPEAN UNION STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP, June 2008 (available in English, French and Portuguese)

Climate change and international security (available in English, French, German, Portuguese and Spanish)

Public Register of Authentic Identity and Travel Documents Online (available in 22 languages)

The European Union and the International Criminal Court - February 2008 (in English)

Information handbook of the Council of the European Union (in 22 languages)


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You can download the publications (pdf files) instantly for free, but most of them are on offer as hard copies as well and can be delivered by post.



Ralf Grahn

Towards a free and united Europe

Per un’Europa libera e unita – Towards a free and united Europe (1941).

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We are not there yet, but we have come a long way:


Draft Treaty establishing the European Union (1984)

Preamble

With a view to continuing and reviving the democratic unification of Europe, of which the European Communities, the European Monetary System and European Political Cooperation represent the first achievements, and convinced that it is increasingly important for Europe to assert its identity;

Welcoming the positive results achieved so far, but aware of the present need to redefine the objectives of European integration, and to confer on more efficient and more democratic institutions the means of attaining them;

Basing their actions on their commitment to the principles of pluralist democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law;

Reaffirming their desire to contribute to the construction of an international society based on cooperation between peoples and between States, the peaceful settlement of disputes, security and the strengthening of international organizations;

Resolved to strengthen and preserve peace and liberty by an ever closer union, and calling on the other peoples of Europe who share their ideal to join in their efforts;

Determined to increase solidarity between the peoples of Europe, while respecting their historical identity, their dignity and their freedom within the framework of freely accepted common institutions;

Convinced of the need to enable local and regional authorities to participate by appropriate methods in the unification of Europe;

Desirous of attaining their common objectives progressively, accepting the requisite transitional periods and submitting all further development for the approval of their peoples and States;

Intending to entrust common institutions, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, only with those powers required to complete successfully the tasks they may carry out more satisfactorily than the States acting independently;

The High Contracting Parties, Member States of the European Communities, have decided to create a European Union


[Source: ENA]



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Voting in the European elections today is a small step on this road, leading to a better future for our children and grandchildren.


Ralf Grahn