New Hampshire Europe Direct Information Relay opens
21 August 2006:
European Law Monitor has announced the launch of the new Europe Direct Information Relay covering Hampshire.
The European Law Monitor – Europe Direct Relay is part of a new UK network of EU drop-in centres, which in itself is part of a the wider European network of over 400 Europe Direct relays, and is located at Eastleigh Borough Council’s Eastleigh Business Centre in Eastleigh Town Centre.
The new Europe Direct Relays are intended to form one of the primary sources of information for the public and business community on EU policies and legislation, and form part of a new strategy intending to close the information gap between the EU and its public. The mission of the Europe Direct network is to:
- enable the local public to obtain information, advice, assistance and answers to questions about the European Union’s institutions, legislation, policies, programmes and funding opportunities
- actively promote local and regional debate about the European Union and its policies
- allow the European institutions to improve the dissemination of information tailored to local and regional needs
- give the public the opportunity to send feedback to the European Union institutions in the form of questions, opinions and suggestions.
Speaking about the Europe Direct network in the UK, Head of the European Commission in the UK, Reijo Kemppinen commented: “This go-ahead for the Europe Direct network within the UK creates a superb facility for the UK public. Through these advice centres we aim to provide a clear and effective information service that will ultimately benefit people by answering any EU related queries they may have and highlight their rights as EU citizens.”
Visitors to the Relay drop-in centre can access EU institutional resources, and gain advice and information on EU matters from European Law Monitor staff.
European Law Monitor is an independent non-political organisation that has been providing EU information through its interactive online service for the last two years, and was nominated for a New Statesman New Media Award earlier this year. The European Law Monitor system has been designed to provide businesses of all sizes with the ability to
monitor and react to proposed European legislation. This “early warning system” allows companies and individuals to identify proposed new laws that might affect them, and to make representations to the relevant bodies to influence or change legislation before it is passed as law.
Claire Bradley, Managing Director of European Law Monitor, comments “It makes perfect sense for European Law Monitor to host the new Europe Direct Relay for Hampshire – it adds a new dimension to the information services we provide. With the additional resources of the Europe Direct Network we can now provide personal advice on EU matters to the regional community via the drop-in centre, and this can be linked to the online services we already
provide, making the European Law Monitor – Europe Direct a true one-stop-shop for information on the European Union” European Law Monitor was established two years ago and is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company. It provides a range of services to allow individuals, companies and NGOs to find and track new EU legislation.
A key feature of the service is its analysis and indexation of legislative proposals to all the individual sectors where it may have an impact. Site visitors can search a database of all new proposals to find those directly applicable to them, and subscribers can download the full text or summaries of the proposed legislation including an assessment of the range and potential impact of the proposals. This helps subscribers become involved in the decision making process at an early stage, opening the way to lobby and influence the relevant MEPs in the European Community. Subscribers can also track individual proposals, receiving e-mail notification of progress and amendments to the acts as they pass through the legislative process, together with advice on deadlines for submissions and methods of making their voice heard.
The site contains forums linked to each individual piece of legislation, allowing subscribers to exchange views, and potentially work together with other subscribers from different countries and backgrounds who might share their concerns in making representations to EU legislators.
For further information:
Contact: European Law Monitor – Europe Direct
Tel: 02380 617200
Email:europedirect@europeanlawmonitor.org
Web:www.europeanlawmonitor.org
