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

European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies

The European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies is an independent group comprising 12 members. Originally set up in 1997, its remit was amended earlier this year to strengthen its role. It acts in an advisory capacity to the European Commission in forming Community legislation and policy on issues related to ethical aspects of science and technology. Its new website at http://europa.eu.int/comm/european_group_ethics/index_en.htm reflects the changes and the work of the group with links to earlier opinions, opinions of the current term 2001-2004, publications, activities, membership, remit, and a useful collection of related sites.

DG Enterprise angle on enlargement

DG Enterprise has added new material to its website on enlargement and enterprise policy. See http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/enterprise_policy/enlargement/index.htm for full details. The site collates a good range of resources including studies, contacts and links. The candidate countries BEST report (Business Environment Simplification Task Force) is due to be published here later this year. The web pages should prove a useful resource for anyone seeking information on this aspect of enlargement, either as one of the candidate countries or as a researcher evaluating progress towards a functioning market economy, one of the key membership criteria for applicant countries.

New SOCRATES-ERASMUS web pages

The EC programme for higher education covering the period 2000-2006 has new web pages at http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/erasmus.html/. These include detailed information about the programme and the European credit transfer system, information for students, and project and contract information for universities. The section on information for university teaching staff is still to be added but there are details of existing projects and participating universities as well as studies and statistics. An overview of how the EC has contributed to higher education in Europe over recent times has numerous links for further information.