Developments in European information issues: Networks and relays – Services – Products, February 2000

Portugal's Presidency web site

The Finnish Presidency is going to be a hard act to follow in web terms, but Portugal, which took over the presidency from January 2000, has its site up and running at http://www.portugal.ue-2000.pt/ and already has a range of information posted. The site is available in either Portuguese or English.

Information on EU funding web site

The Secretariat-General of the Commission has produced a useful web site on EU funding at http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgc/info_subv/intro_funding.htm/ offering a single access route to a helpful, though not comprehensive, range of web sites on EU funding information. It gives a very brief general introduction but refers users to the now somewhat dated 1997 publication Grants and loans from the European Union for a more comprehensive explanation. This is available in electronic format, hyperlinked from this site, as well as print at http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/aides/en/cover.htm/. A new edition is currently in preparation.

The latest information, together with application forms is widely scattered on the home pages of the various Directorates General and services of the Commission, but this site draws together a selection of these links. Additionally it gives access to the Vade-mecum on grant management which came into force on 1st January 1999 and specifies general rules concerning payment and calculation of grants. A policy on the compulsory publication of directly awarded grants was also adopted at the same time. No single web site yet collates this information. Instead it is again posted on the home pages of the relevant DGs. A list of grants awarded as part of the Commission's administration expenses under Part A of its budget is sent to the Parliament and a link to that list, Report on beneficiaries of Part A Commission grants is available from here.