Developments in European information issues: Networks and relays – Services – Products, September 2001

EUR-Lex Portal

In the latest issue of EUR-OP News (issue no.2, 2001 - not yet available on the EUR-OP website http://eur-op.eu.int/ though you can register here online for your copy), Eva-Maria Maurer gives an interview on the EUR-Lex portal http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/. She is the Chair of the Groupe Interinstitutionnel LEX, an inter-institutional group which deals with issues relating to EU law. One of the key parts of the interview as far as EU information providers are concerned is the announcement that from 2002 all on-line legislation will be free of charge. Further clarification from the Helpdesk confirmed that as of 1.1.2002 it is intended that all legislation in whatever format - TIFF, PDF older than 45 days or HTML - whether it is in force or not, will be available free of charge. This will give access to PDF documents back to 1998, while the whole of the former EUDOR archive of TIFF files including the complete set of the OJ will be available.

The CELEX database is however to remain a fee-paying service because of its sophisticated search engine and the other added-value features which it offers. It is also to be developed further to ensure that it retains customers. These changes will bring even more pressure on commercial providers in this competitive market.

CONECCS

It may not exactly be a snappy title - “Consultation, the European Commission and civil society” but if you tried to use the less than satisfactory “Directory of Interest Groups” you will be pleased to welcome this enhanced replacement service. The new database is available at http://europa.eu.int/comm/civil_society/coneccs/index_en.htm. As well as the searchable database itself, there is information about it, how to use it, how to register your organisation online and amend your details, as well, of course, as links to other sites. Other areas are still under construction. The database offers an A-Z list of organisations, a list by policy area and a search option where name or acronym can be entered in combination with the selection from menus of an organisation type (eg NGO) or a policy area. Perhaps the online submission of data will help to keep the details up to date.