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

Eurolaw enhancements

ILI's version of the CELEX database, Eurolaw, now contains the Official Journal L & C series in pdf format back to the beginning of 1998. The early pdf files are not currently built into the database to appear as optional display formats when the records resulting from a search are shown on the screen, though records for later years do have an “Original Document” link at the top of the record details. To access the text in its original format as published in the print version of the Official Journal 1998 (or other issues to date if wanted) you click on the OJ icon on the search page. A monthly calendar showing the active dates is displayed. After selecting the appropriate date, links to the relevant L and C issues enable the user to launch Adobe Acrobat Reader. Other language versions are also offered, though none go back as far as 1998. Available dates vary by language. The pdf format issues include all the parts published in the OJ C E as well as the OJ C, so the full text of proposals for legislation and written questions and answers as published in the OJ C E can also be accessed. For some subscribers it will now be possible to dispense with paper copies and solve a space crisis.

On the full record display other possible links offered include standards information (drawn from one of ILI's other products), Annexes and tables, or an ILI Briefing. Where relevant standard information is provided, note that this is not full text. It covers bibliographic details, information on whether the standard has been updated or cancelled, a short summary, equivalency details and the length of the print publication. A future enhancement expected shortly is a link to UK Statutory Instruments.

For a free trial or more information about Eurolaw visit ILI's website at http://www.ili.co.uk/en/ or contact the company:

ILI
Index House
Ascot
Berkshire SL5 7EU
Tel +44(0)-1344-636314
Fax +44(0)-1344-291194
Email: databases@ili.co.uk

ILI has taken over the former Spearhead database from the Department of Trade and Industry. The DTI 's database was a valuable tool for businesses in the UK, summarising EU measures in clear English and providing contacts and details of UK implementing Acts and Statutory Instruments. Originally focussing on matters relating to the single market programme it widened its remit to include legislation in areas of health and safety, environment and social policy which had important implications for business. Maintenance of the database ceased in June 2000. Previously available as a bolt-on extra to Eurolaw under the heading DTI Briefings, it now appears under the description ILI Briefing. ILI has been working to maintain and update the information in the database and is adding its own material.

The Spearhead database was also offered by Context as part of their Justis CELEX CD-ROM product. The English version of the Justis CD-ROM continues to include the final version of the database at June 2000.

Treaty of Nice Portal

With the signing of the Treaty of Nice on 26 February 2001, Europa has launched an attractively presented new Treaty of Nice portal which draws together a range of resources and simplifies the search for anyone following the progress towards agreement through the IGC 2000 as well as future developments. Its address is http://europa.eu.int/comm/nice_treaty/index_en.htm. To find more information about the full contents, draw the mouse over the headings listed. It is worth noting that the tabs on the banner are not limited to the portal contents but link to the main Europa search engine and index. Links are provided to the full text of the treaty, fact sheets, a treaty summary and details of the new decision making procedures. A summary table will facilitate the monitoring of the process of ratification by the member states. This will be made available when there are results to report. Features such as the brief guide to the EU and treaty implications, aimed at EU citizens, and the collection of links to key issues such as governance, enlargement, the Charter of fundamental rights and the Presidency are all useful. Of particular interest, however, especially to researchers examining the whole IGC process, will be the IGC 2000 archives section. This includes contributions from the member states, EU institutions and bodies, key speeches and various discussion documents offering different perspectives and positions on the negotiations - a wealth of data to be analysed.

Farm Accountancy Data Network Public Database

This is not one for the fainthearted, but if you need the data it is useful to know that it is available free of charge in an electronic format. The FADN was established in 1965 though the data available online dates from 1989. The network's purpose was to gather the raw data to enable a Community-wide analysis of agricultural incomes and businesses. The data is collected through an annual sample of c.60,000 holdings in the member states of the EU. For each farm in the sample, information on some 1000 variables is gathered. This covers both economic and financial data, as well as physical data - anything from production costs, quotas and subsidies, sales and purchases, and crop values to geographic location, area of crops, livestock numbers, and work force. As with Census data, to ensure individual confidentiality only aggregated results are available. Results are not shown for a group of less than 15 farms. The data itself is organised according to a number of basic parameters: year, geographic location, type of farming and economic size.

There are two ways to consult the database. The first is via a set of pre-defined reports which provide a group of standard results by theme, eg subsidies or costs. Simply select from a table of options. The report can be customised by selecting specific years, breaking down the geographic information to regional level, or rotating the axis of particular variables. Pre-defined reports can be viewed on screen or downloaded in CSV format so that they can be incorporated into spreadsheet software and manipulated as required. The alternative way to consult the FADN Database is to produce a standard summary report. Due to the high number of results contained in these reports it is not possible to view them on screen and they must be downloaded instead in CSV format.

Further information about the contents, methodology and dissemination of the results is available on the website together with brief though not particularly helpful guidance on using the database. To find out more or search the database go to http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/rica/dwh/index_en.cfm/

Online Forum of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work has launched an Online Forum for Health and Safety as a pilot project at http://europe.osha.eu.int/good_practice/forums/. Aimed in particular at those with responsibility for health and safety in the workplace, the forum will initially be a bulletin board for comments, questions and announcements to encourage the exchange of information and promote good practice. The pilot project will have a five language interface. As it develops, other features such as frequently asked questions will be added. Already in place are two sub fora on the health care sector and stress at work.

European Parliament new look spreading

The European Parliament at http://www.europarl.eu.int/ is rolling out its new look to other sections of the site. The agenda and reports sections of the plenary session pages now benefit from the colourful but clear presentation as well as some additional features. For agenda items there is an explanation of the procedures and speaking time rules, with details on any relevant deadlines. Reports are listed with pdf or Word icons for the full text. It is worth remembering that the EP website is a useful source of the texts of Common Positions and is updated regularly. It does however offer only 1999, 2000 and 2001 texts and the obvious question is whether texts will be retained only for a limited period, in which case it will be unsafe to rely on their availability here.

The Members of the European Parliament database at http://wwwdb.europarl.eu.int/ep5/owa/p_meps2.repartition?ilg=EN&orig=home/ has also been given the new look. It is presented in the form of a table organised by political group and country. It is easy to see at a glance what the political spread is. The numbers are live links which bring up a list of the members' names. The information shows the current position on membership and helpfully there are details of changes of the last 60 days, listing out-going and in-coming members. Tabs on the table offer alternative approaches - an alphabetical listing or multicriteria search. The functionality of the latter route remains the same.

CORDIS content survey

The CORDIS content quality survey is still running, so if you have comments to make about improvements you would like to see, you can complete a short questionnaire and add your views. On entry to the CORDIS home page a box flashes up on the screen or you can go directly to http://www.cordis.lu/cqas/home.html

CORDIS also has a new website to act as a focal point for young researchers looking for suitable funding opportunities. Under the Fifth Framework programme, the website provides information relating to pre-doctoral and post-doctoral fellowship grants. It can be found at http://www.cordis.lu/fellowships/

One of the thematic programmes under FP5, Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources has been revamped at http://www.cordis.lu/life/home.html. The aim is to improve the ease of use and highlight in particular how to make applications. For a programme home page which lists as one of its six key actions “The ageing population and disabilities”, this website has not made it easy for users either in terms of the print colours used or the size of font of the main body of text. The redeeming feature is that the contents menu does at least look helpful in directing users straightforwardly to the information on offer.