ENS Guide to European web sites

• Research, Framework Programme, ERA
• Joint Research Centre (JRC) & JRC Institutes
• Energy & Transport (TREN)
• Agencies of the European Community
• European Parliament (EP)
• EP Committees
• Council of the European Union
• European Economic and Social Committee
• EU services: publications, libraries, statistics, public opinion, recruitment
• Scientific institutions
• International organisations
• Lobbying associations
• Nuclear links

European Parliament (EP)

The European Parliament (EP) is the democratic voice of the peoples of Europe. The European Parliament first met in 1952. Directly elected every five years. EP’s principal roles are as follows : to examine and adopt European legislation ; under the co-decision procedure, EP shares this power equally with the Council of Ministers; to approve the EU budget; to exercise democratic control over the other EU institutions; to assent to important international agreements. The EP has parliamentary committees to deal with particular issues (industry, research & energy; environment; transport & tourism; foreign affairs,...). The President of the Parliament is Josep Borrell Fontelles and the 1st Vice-President is Alejo Vidal-Quadras Roca:
http://www.europarl.eu.int/home/default_en.htm

For its 6th term (2004-2009), the European Parliament has 732 Members (MEPs) from 25 countries. MEPs sit in seven political groups, each group reflecting the political ideology ofthe national parties to which its members belong : Group of the European People's Party & European Democrats (PPE-DE); Socialist Group in the European Parliament (PSE); Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE); Group of the Greens & European Free Alliance (Verts/ALE); Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL); Independence & Democracy Group (IND/DEM); Union for Europe of the Nations Group (UEN); Non-attached Members (NI):
http://wwwdb.europarl.eu.int/ep6/owa/p_meps2.repartition ?ilg=EN&iorig=home

Scientific & Technological Options Assessment (STOA). Many issues coming before the European Parliament have a scientific or technological theme: proposals directly relating to research or innovation policy, measures concerning the many ways in which science and technology impact on society, the economy or the environment. The European Parliament defines its position on these issues through reports prepared by its Committees. If Committees decide that it would be helpful to their policy making role to seek out expert, independent assessments of the various scientific or technological options in the policy sectors concerned, then they have STOA at their disposal: the EP's own Scientific and Technological Options Assessment unit (STOA):
http://www.europarl.eu.int/stoa/default_en.htm

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