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European Studies: European Union

Last Updated: Jan 8, 2024 4:00 PM

European Union Resources

Some resources are listed in other sections of this guide.

  • How the EU Works
    A quick overview.
  • Europa – Official Documents from EU Institutions
    Includes the Official Journal, along with documents of individual institutions, agencies, and other EU bodies.
  • Official Journal of the European Union
    The official compendium of EU legislation (L series) and other official documents of the EU institutions, bodies and agencies (C series and its supplements). It is published every day from Tuesday to Saturday in the official languages of the EU and is available in different formats.  Covers 1952 to date.  A search capability is provided: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/advanced-search-form.html?qid=1414164896677&action=update. Older paper versions are available, consult the catalog under Official Journal of the European Union.  In addition: accessible from this site are EU law and related documents (treaties, legislation, etc.), national case law, legislative procedures, and directories, institutions and bodies, and summaries of EU legislation. 
  • European Parliament
    This is the directly elected parliamentary organ of the EU.  Along with the Council of Europe and the European Commission, it exercises the legislative functions of the EU.  A search engine is provided.
  • Eur-Lexz
    Provides access to EU law and public documents. Collections include treaties, legislation in force, case law, and more.  A search engine is provided.
  • Council of the European Union
    Also informally known as the EU Council, this is where national ministers from each EU country meet to adopt laws and coordinate policies.  A search engine is provided.  Not to be confused with the Council of Europe http://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/home which is the continent's leading human rights organization.  It includes 47 member states, 28 of which are members of the European Union.
  • European Commission
    The Commission represents the interests of the EU as a whole. It proposes new legislation to the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, and it ensures that EU law is correctly applied by member countries.

Sources Reporting EU Activities

  • Europa – EU Newsroom
    The official site for EU press releases and easily browsed and searched. In addition to print, video, photo, and audio releases are available.
  • Rapid
    “The RAPID database contains all the Press Releases of the Commission since 1985, the great majority of them in at least two languages. It also contains Press Releases of some of the other European institutions, particularly the Council of the Union.”
  • EurActiv
    An online media source on European affairs, which is easily browsed as well as searchable. Sections for topics ranging from Agriculture and Food to Health and Consumers to Trade and Society are further divided.

Librarian

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Natalia Estrada
she/they
Contact:
University at Buffalo - North Campus
322 Lockwood Memorial Library
Buffalo, NY 14260
716-645-1338

Attribution

Originally published 5 December 2014 by Charles D’Aniello, Don Hartman, Cindi Tysick, & Dave Bertuca