1. General Information about the European Union

1.1. European institutions and policies
1.2. Information and advice for businesses – Enterprise Europe Network (EEN)

1.1.     EUROPEAN INSTITUTIONS AND POLICIES

The European Union (EU) represents a majority of European countries and citizens. It is a state-like political organisation, since it accepted to take on quite some sovereignty of its member states. Still it is not a state.

Its reason of existence – making Europeans prosperous and peaceful – led it to freeing trade within its borders. With products circulating wider and wider, Europeans appeared to grow mutually more curious, open and friendly. The confidence drawn from this experience inspired the EU actors to extend and intensify European cooperation and to speak with one strong voice for freeing trade worldwide.

The main EU institutions can be categorised as:
- governmental:   the Commission
- representative:  the Parliament (the citizens) and the Council (the member states)
- judicial:               the Court of Justice

Also highly visible is the European Council, a quarterly Member State meeting bringing together national presidents, prime ministers and the Commission president. It patronizes overall European policy and progress.

The staff of Commission, Parliament and Council are organized into Directorates General (DGs). Each DG is headed by a Director General, reporting to a supervising member of the Commission. Together they are active in 32 areas of policy. Most relevant for this guide are: external trade, customs, taxation, internal market, consumer protection and environment.

EUROPA, the portal website of the EU invites you to meet all EU players and activities. For your convenience, we present an easy-reference manual.

Jump from stone  to stone in this ‘ABC of Europe’ to discover a panorama, the symbols, countries, and key facts. Don’t skip the guide to eurojargon. It sheds light on darker EU terms as ‘council’, ‘third country’ and ‘subsidiarity’.

How to find info in this ‘ABC of Europe’?

Step 1:   login to the ‘ABC’ (click on the link above)

Step 2:   move your mouse to an icon to produce a brief explanation of the topic ... and click

               
If you want a quick insight into one of the 32 areas of EU activity, follow the steps.

Step 1:   login to the ‘overview’ (click on the link above)

Step 2:   move your mouse to the left hand menu to select your policy of interest … and click

                              
For legislation or the home page of a DG concerned with the policy of your interest, follow the examples.

Example 1:          ‘I’m looking for the latest actions of DG External Trade.’

Step 1:   login to the ‘portals overview’ (click on the link above)

Step 2:   click on ‘external trade’ in the left hand menu

Step 3:   click on ‘trade’ under ‘Commission - trade’

Now you have reached the home page of DG external trade. The latest news is displayed at its focal point.

Example 2:          ‘I’m looking for a readable summary of EU legislation on external trade.’

Step 1:   follow step 1 and 2 of example 1

Step 2:   click on ‘panorama’ under ‘Summaries of legislation’

Step 3:   select an appropriate item from the table of contents

Receive a personally assisted discovery tour by phone, directly online, or by e-mail. Follow the steps.

Step 1:   login (click on the link above)

Step 2:   choose your most appropriate channel

Possibility 1:         click on ‘Europe Direct’ if you have a general question on the EU

Possibility 2:         click on ‘web assistance’ If you need help navigating through EUROPA

Possibility 3:         click on a ‘Contact Guide’ to send an e-mail to a European institution or body

Step 3:   phone, chat or mail.

A. Note on languages

The EU likes to provide you with information in a familiar language. The EU now counts 23 official languages. The three current internal working languages of the EU are English, French and German.

1.2.     INFORMATION AND ADVICE FOR BUSINESSES –
ENTERPRISE EUROPE NETWORK (EEN)

The Enterprise Europe Network, launched in February 2008, is intended to help SMEs to develop their innovative potential and to raise their awareness on Commission policies.
Building on the strengths and achievements of the Euro Info Centres and the Innovation Relay Centres, this new European Commission initiative offers entrepreneurs a one stop shop where they can seek advice and benefit from a wide range of easily accessible business support services in order to boost knowledge economy.
Small businesses, especially in their early stages, often do not have the resources to closely monitor the many different kinds of assistance EU programmes can provide. Nor are they always able to fully assess the innovative and market potential of their products or explore new business opportunities, particularly outside the areas they know well.
The Enterprise Europe Network bridges this gap. With more than 500 contact points and almost 4,000 experienced staff members, the network is the largest in Europe providing expertise and services for business. These are available to companies of all sizes irrespective of whether they are in manufacturing or services, although they are primarily directed at SMEs, research institutes, universities, technology centres and business and innovation development agencies.
Browse the Enterprise Europe Network website at:http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise-europe-network
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‘What can EEN members do for me?’

EEN members generally can support you in one of three ways. Example questions clarify each field of activity.

Field 1:  Inform you on EU matters

Examples             - ‘What is the latest legislation on maximum noise levels for manufacturing?’
- ‘Do I need to put CE marking on my products?’
- ‘Is there financial aid to buy new machinery or to produce a feasibility study for a joint venture?’ How can the EU support my innovation and R&D investments?
- ‘What safety standards exist for my machinery?’
- ‘When can I put the ‘ECO label’ on my products?’
- ‘How much import duty is there on wine imported into the EU from Ukraine?’

Field 2:  Advise and assist you

Examples             - ‘I need advise on public procurement, business co-operation, financing, market research and European legislation, …’
- ‘I need assistance to apply for Commission projects and to fulfil administrative formalities, …’
- ‘I need support in identifying potential business partners in other European countries, interesting trade fairs in my branch,…

Field 3:  Strengthen your voice in the EU

Example                               - ‘I want to give confidential feedback to the Commission about recurring obstacles to my enterprise and business in general.’