Developments in European information issues: Networks and relays – Services – Products, July 2002

CORDIS enhancements

CORDIS has produced a new contacts service derived from its Contacts database. The development is part of a trend to provide a user-friendly service based on an existing database but with added value and a search interface. Other similar tools are expected to be produced shortly. The contacts service at http://www.cordis.lu/contacts/ seeks to provide a comprehensive collection of information on local assistance and networks as well as EU officials who support European research and innovation. Organisations and individuals are included, together with additional links relating for example to information on the preparation of bids, or calls for proposals. The service covers not just the member states but candidate countries as well. There is a basic search option or an advanced search alternative where searches criteria such as country, programme or type of contact can be used to limit results. An e-mail alert service sends out automatic notification of new contacts added. While it looks more appealing than the original database, the value of such a service lies in its accuracy, currency and comprehensiveness. Time will tell whether it matches users' expectations.

CORDIS has also revamped its gateway to national research information in the EU member states at http://www.cordis.lu/national_service/. This service was first introduced in 1996, coming progressively on stream from that date. It was developed jointly by CORDIS and the relevant national government departments or research bodies, and it provides information about the national systems in place to support research activities as well as key data on participation in EU-funded research programmes. The left menu bar offers easy links to the individual member states pages, while the main item heading the body of the screen is the Danish Presidency research and innovation information service. Additionally there is a search option which covers member states' news and a link to the regional gateway where a specific region can be selected via the map or from a pop-up menu.

Additions to the Transport web site

DG Transport has been making a number of useful additions to its web pages, including a site devoted to the driving licence. It seeks to bring together relevant information on a topic of wide interest for both the citizen and national bodies. Sections include an overview, the key principles, the various legal initiatives, links, what's new and - particularly useful for all who have fielded questions on this subject - a set of FAQs. Many of these questions will be instantly recognisable. Visit the site for help on the issue and withdrawal of licences, conditions, vehicle types, mutual recognition, legislative developments, work in progress and more. There are links too for online ordering, e.g. the volume on driving licence models. See http://europa.eu.int/comm/transport/home/drivinglicence/index_en.htm for full details.

Also on the Transport web site is a new database called CARE. This Community database on road accidents resulting in death or injury (not just damage) contains detailed anonymised data on individual accidents as collected by the member states with some harmonisation to adapt to the adopted criteria. By gathering statistics on road safety problems, the aim is to facilitate accident analysis and the evaluation of the effectiveness of counter-measures to improve safety, including Community actions. The main use foreseen is exploitation by government agencies and the European Commission, but the data will no doubt also be valuable to researchers and other users. CARE is the fourth phase of a project started with a feasibility study in 1988 and is compared to the US FARS system (Fatality Analysis Reporting System), which has been operational since the 1970s. No similar system has been in place in Europe until now. The data dates mainly from 1991, though it is not available for all countries from that date. Statistical tables, the searchable part of CARE, provide comparative data from 1991 to 2001, but 2001 figures are at the moment just estimates. To search the data, choose a country (or all countries) from the drop-down menu, then select “person class” and click on “show table”. At present only a limited number of variables are available. Tables can be displayed, for example, showing fatalities by gender for all member states broken down into inside or outside urban areas. The options under person class are currently gender or age group, but more combinations are planned, so it should in future be possible to select from driver, passenger or pedestrian as well, and specify a location such as roundabout, junction or motorway. A glossary of definitions gives more details of the content included. Though only at an embryo stage, this should prove a useful resource once it has been developed further.

New look for the EU news site

Europa's new look has spread to the EU news site which now brings together the latest news releases in a much more usable way at http://europa.eu.int/news/index_en.htm/. The latest press releases are available in the top half of the page, while the bottom half contains upcoming events. The left menu bar contains key links to other sections at the top with - lower down - links to press releases, the RAPID database, releases of the last seven days, the subscribe option and Europe by satellite. On the top right of the page, are the press pack links. Current topics include the euro, the Convention on the future of Europe, fisheries policy, Middle East, CAP and the World Summit on sustainable development. Below that come the links to the press services of the individual institutions. The whole page has a cleaner, clearer look and brings together easy access routes to the latest information from all the major sources.

Altogether it is a considerable improvement on the previous presentation.

EDCs home page

One of the outcomes of the last annual meeting of EDC national co-ordinators, organised in Sardinia by Madame Isabel Loff, responsible for the EDC network, before her retirement, was the decision to establish a working party to set up a joint home page for EDCs. The new page is now available at http://edceu.ubvu.vu.nl/, hosted by the Free University of Amsterdam. Clearly organised it brings together a useful collection of access points and will be well worth including in a links section of your web site.