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	European Institutions and Agencies Institutions Barroso Commission Europa website European Parliament website European Council website European Court of Justice (ECJ) European Court of Auditors European Ombudsman European Data Protection Supervisor Financial Bodies European Central Bank (ECB) European Investment Bank (EIB) Advisory Bodies Economic and Social Committee (EESC) Committee of the Regions Agencies of the European Communities A Community agency is a body governed by European public law; it is distinct from the Community Institutions (Council, Parliament, Commission, etc.) and has its own legal personality. It is set up by an act of secondary legislation in order to accomplish a very specific technical, scientific or managerial task which is specified in the relevant Community act. There are currently seventeen bodies answering the definition of Community agency, even though differing terms are used to designate them (Centre, Foundation, Agency, Office, Observatory); this may lead to some confusion, particularly as the same terms may be used to designate other bodies which do not answer the said definition.- Further information is available at: http://europa.eu/agencies/index_en.htm One of the agencies, the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, is based in Co. Dublin.
	European Union Databases Europe Direct is an information service that aims to provide direct and easy access to information and advice on the activities of the European Union and its single market. Eurostat is the European Union's statistical information service. RAPID provides a daily view of the activities of the European Union as presented by the Commission, the Council and other EU institutions in their press releases Eur-Lex portal is a single entry point a portal to EU legal texts. PreLex is the partner database of EurLex. It follows all Commission legislative proposals and communications, from the time they are sent to the Council or to the European Parliament until they are either adopted, rejected or withdrawn. ARCHISplus is a database giving access to the historical archives of the European Commission. TED, the Tenders Electronic Daily, contains European calls for tender published in the Official Journal Supplement S of the European Communities. It is the one-stop official information source for timely information on public procurement opportunities from the European Union, the European Economic Area and beyond. CORDIS is the Community Research and Development Information Service. ECLAS gives access to the European Commission’s Library Catalogue. IDEA is an electronic database which comprises the directories of the various European Union institutions. SCADplus is a database that contains clear and concise summaries of EU legislation in all policy areas.
	European Commission Offices in the Member States The European Commission has Representations in all of its 27 Member States. The Representations come under the Directorate General for Communication.
	European Commission Delegations and Offices in third countries The EU is the largest trading block in the world, the largest donor of humanitarian and development assistance and a constant point of reference for others on stability, democracy and human rights. The European Commission plays a key role in the implementation of the EU's foreign and other policies and in this it relies heavily on its over 120 Delegations and Offices around the World, which act not only as the eyes and ears of the Commission in their host countries but also as its mouthpiece vis-à-vis the authorities and the general population. Commission Delegations are being consistently strengthened so that EU external assistance can be delivered more rapidly and efficiently.
	Sites concerning young people and education European Youth Portal - If you are thinking of going to another European country to study or work, or on holiday.. if you are looking for activities or opportunities in Europe..if you have something to say or ask about European issues, this portal could be a good place to start! Travelling in Europe - the EU's official website for people travelling in the 27 countries of the EU. Lifelong learning programme - the flagship European funding programme in the field of education and training covering learning opportunities from childhood to old age. It is the successor to the Socrates, Leonardo da Vinci and eLearning programmes. Erasmus - an EU programme giving university students the chance to live and study abroad. Youth in Action programme - the new EU Programme in the field of youth, which will be implemented from 1 January 2007 until 31 December 2013. Europass Ireland - a new initiative which aims to help people make their skills and qualifications clearly and easily understood in Europe, thus facilitating the mobility of both learners and workers. European Studies programme - a post-primary curriculum based programme linking schools in Ireland with schools across Europe. Léargas Eurodesk Ireland - a free information service providing young people and those who work with them with information on EU funding and opportunities to work, study, volunteer and travel in Europe. Youth Information Centres - a free, confidential information service to young people and those who work with them on a wide range of subjects including careers, education, employment matters, rights and entitlements, leisure, sport, travel and European opportunities. Europocket TV - a multimedia platform providing information on Europe and targeting young people. Prizes and Competitions webpage - Win great prizes and make a difference in the EU's competitions for young people.
	Other useful European sites International Roaming Charges Website Web-log of European Commission Vice-President Margot Wallström European Women's Foundation European Consumer Centre European Food Safety Authority EuropaGo website contains interactive games aimed at increasing knowledge of Europe European Youth Portal Europe by Satellite European Commission Audiovisual Library Your Voice in Europe - provides a list of public consultations organised by the European Commission EUTube - the YouTube space of the European Commission Your Europe portal - On-line EU and national public services European Portal for SMEs - access to on-line information for small and medium-sized enterprises Council of Europe - An international organisation based in Strasbourg which comprises 46 democratic countries of Europe. It was set up to promote democracy and protect human rights and the rule of law in Europe. Founded in 1949 it is the continent's oldest political organisation. European Court of Human Rights - Part of the Council of Europe and also based in Strasbourg, this is the only truly judicial organ established by the European Convention on Human Rights. It is composed of one Judge for each State party to the Convention and ensures, in the last instance, that contracting states observe their obligations under the Convention. Toute l'Europe- a French web portal giving access to news and information on European issues. The portal is managed by the Centre d'information sur l'Europe, which is an economic interest grouping founded in 1992 by the French Government and the European Commission. Citizens Signpost Service - provides personalised advice to EU citizens when they encounter problems while exercising their rights within the European Union Eurojargon - a plain language guide to Eurojargon
	Useful Irish sites European Parliament Office in Ireland Irish Government website Department of Foreign Affairs website Department of Foreign Affairs - 50th Anniversary of the Treaty of Rome celebrations EU50 Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Affairs Department of Health and Children Health Protection Surveillance Centre Department of Agriculture and Food Europe Direct Information Centres Institute of European Affairs European Movement - Ireland Irish Congress of Trade Unions Léargas National Europass Centre for Ireland European Anti Poverty Network (EAPN) Ireland National Action Plan Against Racism Rehab Group (an independent, not-for-profit organisation providing training, employment, social care and commercial services) Irish Society of European Law (an association of practising and academic lawyers established in 1973 with the object of promoting the study and practice of European Law in Ireland) Dolceta Ireland (information on consumer rights and financial services) Irish Regions Office (providing information about the Irish members of the Committee of the Regions, CoR) Ireland for Europe (‘Ireland for Europe’ is a new independent and non-party campaign strongly committed to promoting a ‘Yes’ vote in the referendum on the Lisbon Treaty) eumatters.ie is a Department of Foreign Affairs website which provides you with factual information about Ireland’ s membership of the European Union.