Europe Direct Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire Libraries & Information, together with the International Education Office, are part of the Europe Direct information network.

We can help you with:

• Member states of the European Union
• Resources for teaching about Europe
• Studying or working in another European country
• EU funding for school partnerships and student activities
• EU laws, policies or programs
• Living or retiring abroad
• European Union funding for your business venture

EU Publications and leaflets:

• To order  single copies of European Union publications please visit the EU Bookshop [Opens in New Window] 
• For bulk supplies of free publications please contact europedirect.glos@gloucestershire.gov.uk
• Gloucester Library has a range of leaflets available and selected libraries hold a European Information folder containing samples of leaflets (further copies of these leaflets can be obtained by contacting Ask Us)

Knowing me, knowing EU

Published by Local Government Association

To understand how EU laws work locally, this LG Association report, Knowing me, Knowing EU - the impact of EU laws on local councils, demonstrates to EU law makers - the European Commission, European Parliament, central government and UK Parliament - exactly how the European laws they make are implemented by councils.
The publication takes a retrospective look at how three European laws on energy efficiency, public procurement and landfill affect services in six councils impact in the UK and recommends improvements to the way future EU decisions are made.
To download or order a copy: http://www.lga.gov.uk/lga/publications/publication-display.do?id=12300325

Launch of the 2012 Charlemagne Youth Prize

The selection procedure for next year's European Charlemagne Youth Prize was launched. The prize is awarded to young people who have been involved in projects to promote understanding between people from different European countries. The deadline for submitting projects for next year's prize, the fifth since it came into being in 2008, is 23 January 2012.

Please find information in all languages here: www.charlemagneyouthprize.eu .

The Charlemagne Youth Prize, which is jointly organised by the European Parliament and the Foundation of the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen, is awarded to projects undertaken by people between 16 and 30 years old. The winning projects should serve as role models for young people living in Europe and offer practical examples of Europeans living together as one community. Youth exchange programmes, artistic and Internet projects with a European dimension are amongst the projects selected.

The three winning projects will be awarded funding of €5,000, €3,000, and €2,000 respectively. They will also be invited to visit the European Parliament.


European Citizens Initiative

The Lisbon Treaty  introduces a new form of public participation in European Union policy shaping, the European citizens' initiative (ECI).

The ECI will allow 1 million citizens from at least one quarter of the EU Member States to invite the European Commission to bring forward proposals for legal acts in areas where the Commission has the power to do so. The organisers of a citizens' initiative, a citizens' committee composed of at least 7 EU citizens who are resident in at least 7 different Member States, will have 1 year to collect the necessary statements of support. The number of statements of support has to be certified by the competent authorities in the Member States. The Commission will then have 3 months to examine the initiative and decide how to act on it. This will be launched on 1 April 2012.

Further details on:  http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/secretariat_general/citizens_initiative/

Presidency of the European Council:

Poland took over the Presidency of the European Council on July 1st and the Polish Cultural Institute are arranging various special events across the country. Further details on: Polish Cultural Institute website [Opens in New Window]

Europe: What's in it for me? [Opens in New Window]

European cities of culture 2011:

2 European cities host a year-long culture fest featuring exhibitions, music and theatre. This year's European ambassadors of culture are Tallinn, Estonia [Opens in New Window] and Turku, Finland [Opens in New Window]

The short address for this web page is: www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/libraries/europedirect

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