Date:

15/02/2013

Factsheet(s):

Balance of Competences Review.

Reason:

Created new factsheet on the Balance of Competences Review after its announcement and early stages.

Date:

08/02/2013

Factsheet(s):

The Schengen Convention.

Reason:

Updated new factsheet on the Schengen Convention to include dispute between Council and Commission/Parliament.

Date:

25/01/2013

Factsheet(s):

The Fiscal Stability Treaty.

Reason:

Updated new factsheet on the Fiscal Compact to take into consideration its entry into force in January 2013.

Date:

24/01/2013

Factsheet(s):

CAP.

Reason:

Updated notes on cost of CAP to Britain (as quoted in TPA/Global Britain report). Added link to bottom of factsheet.

Date:

23/01/2013

Factsheet(s):

Greece, Ireland and Cyrpus and Malta.

Reason:

Updated 2012 election results, new Prime Minister in Greece. Edited Cyprus to reflect bailout negotiations still ongoing and no longer the President of the Council of Ministers, and edited Ireland as it has now taken over the 6 month presidency.

Date:

17/01/2013

Factsheet(s):

The Baltic States.

Reason:

New Prime Minister for Lithuania.

Date:

11/01/2013

Factsheet(s):

December 2012 Updates.

Reason:

Uploaded updates summaries.

Date:

07/01/2013

Factsheet(s):

EU Glossary.

Reason:

Uploaded updates and changes to the EU Glossary.

Date:

19/12/2012

Factsheet(s):

November 2012 Updates.

Reason:

Uploaded EU monthly news summary for November 2012.

Date:

18/12/12

Factsheet(s):

The European Investment Bank, The European Investment Fund, External Relations homepage and The EU Budget.

Reason:

EIB - Updated origin details (Treaty of Rome), EIF - updated the net profit figure (estimate) for 2011, updated the financial profile e.g. AAA rating and External Relations homepage - updated spacing and the EU Budget - updated with 2013 budget details and breakdown on 2011 figures per capita for UK contributions (and Denmark, the highest per capita).

Date:

03/12/12

Factsheet(s):

The European Citizens' Initative and The Eureopan Arrest Warrant.

Reason:

Uploaded new factsheets.

Date:

20/11/12

Worksheet(s):

Environment, Energy and Transport, Trade and Development, Immigration and Asylum, Defence and Diplomacy, EU Social Policy, Justice and Hoome Affairs and Common Fisheries Policy.

Reason:

Updated layout and logos on worksheets.

Date:

16/11/12

Worksheet(s):

CAP.

Reason:

Updated wording of questions on CAP worksheet.

Date:

15/11/12

Worksheet(s):

EU Overview I, EU Overview II, EU Overview III, EU Enlargement, Arguments for the EU, EU Institutions, The European Commission, The European Parliament, European Union Law, European Union Treaties and EU Budget.

Reason:

Updated headings and logos on worksheets.

Date:

13/11/12

Worksheet(s):

EU Overview III.

Reason:

Worksheet - updated the country holding the 6-month EU presidency to Ireland: Jan - June 2013.

Date:

08/11/12

Factsheet(s):

The Netherlands and October 2012 EU Updates.

Reason:

Updated the Netherlands factsheet with new coalition government details and uploaded the news summary for October 2012.

Date:

07/11/12

Factsheet(s):

Britain and UK Political Parties.

Reason:

Updated UK to correct MEPs in the UK to 73. Updated UK political parties to reflect recent changes such as the resignation of a BNP MEP.

Date:

23/10/12

Factsheet(s):

Britain.

Reason:

Updated UK now 7th largest economy, details on European Union Act and the number of MEPs to rise to 73 in the near future.

Date:

12/10/12

Factsheet(s):

Spain.

Reason:

Updated unemployment stats and banking bailout notes.

Date:

11/10/12

Factsheet(s):

EU Talks for Schools page.

Reason:

Updated links to powerpoint presentations.

Date:

05/10/12

Factsheet(s):

EU Updates September 2012.

Reason:

Added September 2012 EU news summary.

Date:

26/09/12

Factsheet(s):

Environmental Policy and Common Agricultural Policy.

Reason:

Environmental Policy - updated links and Commission's new proposed cap on crop-based biofuels. Common Agricultural Policy - updted html error.

Date:

17/09/12

Factsheet(s):

EU Updates August 2012.

Reason:

Added August 2012 EU news summary.

Date:

21/08/12

Factsheet(s):

Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia.

Reason:

Updated regarding Serbia's July election results. Updated europa weblinks. Added a new quote by the new Serbian president on EU membership. Updated details regarding EULEX mission.

Date:

13/08/12

Factsheet(s):

Iceland.

Reason:

Updated quotes and stats regarding unemployment.

Date:

25/07/12

Factsheet(s):

European Citizenship and Denmark.

Reason:

Updated links and population stats on European Citizenship factsheet and updated Denmark factsheet regarding the end of their 6 month rotating presidency.

Date:

10/07/12

Factsheet(s):

Cyprus and Malta and June 2012 EU Updates.

Reason:

Amended factsheet in light of Cyprus taking over the 6-month presidency and its bailout request. Uploaded news summary for June 2012.

Date:

09/06/12

Factsheet(s):

May EU Updates.

Reason:

Uploaded EU news summary for May.

Date:

29/05/12

Factsheet(s):

Glossary, Belgium and Luxembourg and The Netherlands.

Reason:

Glossary Eurozone member states number amended. Created new factsheets for Belgium and Luxembourg and the Netherlands which previously had been combined as one.

Date:

18/05/12

Factsheet(s):

Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Reason:

Created new factsheets for the Czech Republic and Slovakia which previously had been combined as one.

Date:

15/05/12

Factsheet(s):

Ireland, Denmark, Hungary and Slovenia.

Reason:

Created new factsheets for Ireland and Denmark and Hungary and Slovenia, which previously had been combined as one.

Date:

11/05/12

Factsheet(s):

April EU Updates, France and Bulgaria and Romania.

Reason:

Added April monthly EU Updates. Changed the photograph on the France factsheet to reflect the new President and updated the facts and figures section on the Bulgaria and Romania factsheet.

Date:

08/05/12

Factsheet(s):

France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, and Bulgaria and Romania.

Reason:

Added the result of the French Presidential election to the France factsheet; noted the resignation of the Dutch Prime Minister on the Benelux factsheet, and the loss of the vote of no confidence of the Romanian government and the consequent new government on the Bulgaria and Romania factsheet.

Date:

20/04/12

Factsheet(s):

The Euro: Economic and Monetary Union, The Single Market, Taxation, and Competition.

Reason:

Updated information on the EFSF and European Stability Mechanism; added information on the 2011 Single Market Act; added new policies on taxation, and updated the facts and figures section to bring statistics up to date.

Date:

11/04/12

Factsheet(s):

The Euro: Economic and Monetary Union.

Reason:

Updated facts on bailouts and funds as well as the wording.

Date:

10/04/12

Factsheet(s):

EU Ombudsman and European Monetary System.

Reason:

Updated facts and figures and added a new weblink to the EU Ombudsman's account page. Updated wording on EMS factsheet.

Date:

03/04/12

Factsheet(s):

European External Action Service (EEAS), Council of the European Union, European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and Committee of the Regions.

Reason:

Updated EEAS budget information to reflect 5% increase agreed for 2012, updated weblinks to EEAS page and added hyperlinks to other factsheets; updated the Secretary General of the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union, and updated the 2012 budget information for the EESC and the Committee of the Regions.

Date:

02/04/12

Factsheet(s):

The Baltic States, Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP).

Reason:

Updated the details on the Latvian President on the Baltic States factsheet. Edited the number of missions the EU's CSDP is currently involved in. Updated hyperlinks on the CFSP factsheet, and added information on the action in Libya in 2011. Updated weblink to Europa pages.

Date:

30/03/12

Factsheet(s):

European Investment Fund, European Institutions, EU Political Parties and March EU Updates.

Reason:

Updated the facts and figures section of the EIF factsheet. Edited number of MEPs and the relative sizes of European party groupings to account for recent changes. Added news updates for March 2012.

Date:

29/03/12

Factsheet(s):

Council of Europe and European Parliament.

Reason:

Updated Council of Europe factsheet with the details of the new President. Edited number of MEPs in the EP to account for recent changes and updated salary information.

Date:

28/03/12

Factsheet(s):

Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Greece.

Reason:

Updated Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia factsheet after Serbia was granted official candidate status in March 2012, corrected spelling of Montenegro. Updated Greece regarding details of second bailout agreement.

Date:

27/03/12

Factsheet(s):

UK political parties' positions on the EU, Overview of the EU, Germany, Czech Republic and Slovakia, Timeline of EU Integration, and EU Citizenship.

Reason:

Updated the number of MEPs from each party to account for Roger Helmer MEP's defection to UKIP in the UK political parties factsheet. Added Croatia's imminent accession and Serbia's official candidate status to the Overview factsheet. Noted the newly elected German President and the new Slovakian government. Added Bulgarian and Romanian accession to the Timeline, and updated the EU population estimate on the Citizenship factsheet.

Date:

09/03/12

Factsheet(s):

EU-US Relations.

Reason:

Updated trade and job stats and recent foreign policy collaborations on EU-US Relations factsheet.

Date:

08/03/12

Factsheet(s):

Court of Auditors.

Reason:

Updated number of years accounts not signed off by the Court. Updated figures to reflect error rates in 2010 (released in 2011).

Date:

05/03/12

Factsheet(s):

February EU Updates.

Reason:

Uploaded February 2012 EU news update summary.

Date:

21/02/12

Factsheet(s):

European Parliament, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, and EU Budget.

Reason:

Added new European Parliament President, updated Benelux factsheet with new Belgian Prime Minister, and added details about the 2012 EU budget.

Date:

17/02/12

Factsheet(s):

January EU Updates and European Parliament President.

Reason:

Added website link to the Martin Schulz profile. Uploaded January 2012 EU news update summary.

Date:

27/01/12

Factsheet(s):

December EU Updates.

Reason:

Uploaded December 2011 EU news update summary.

Date:

26/01/12

Factsheet(s):

European Parliament President.

Reason:

Updated People Profiles factsheet to reflect change in European Parliament Presidency to Martin Shulz.

Date:

16/01/12

Factsheet(s):

EU overview III.

Reason:

Updated EU Overview III worksheet to reflect Denmark taking over the EU rotating presidency.

Date:

10/01/12

Factsheet(s):

Denmark and Ireland; Slovenia and Hungary, and Croatia, FYR Macedonia and Albania.

Reason:

Updated Denmark and Ireland factsheet to note Danish Presidency of the Council of Ministers; updated Slovenia and Hungary factsheet with outcome of Slovenian elections and the new Hungarian constitution; updated the Croatia, FYR Macedonia and Albania factsheet to add the signing of Croatia's Accession Treaty.

Date:

06/12/11

Factsheet(s):

November EU Updates.

Reason:

Uploaded November 2011 EU news update summary.

Date:

02/12/11

Factsheet(s):

Pressure Groups and Lobbying in the EU and Examples of ECJ case law.

Reason:

Added 2 new factsheets, Pressure Groups and Lobbying in the EU and examples of ECJ case law.

Date:

30/11/11

Factsheet(s):

Democracy in the EU.

Reason:

Added new factsheet, Democracy in the EU.

Date:

29/11/11

Factsheet(s):

Common Fisheries Policy Worksheet, Theories of European Integration and The European External Action Service

Reason:

Amended the Common Fisheries Policy worksheet to bring it closer in line with the Common Fisheries Policy factsheet. Added 2 new factsheets, Theories of European Integration and the European External Action Service.

Date:

25/11/11

Factsheet(s):

Italy, Greece, Spain, Ireland and Denmark, Romania and Bulgaria.

Reason:

Updated Italy factsheet with new Prime Minister; corrected minor errors in Greece and Spain factsheets; updated Ireland and Denmark factsheet with new Irish President and Romania and Bulgaria factsheet with new Bulgarian President-elect.

Date:

24/11/11

Factsheet(s):

Portugal, Greece, Spain.

Reason:

Updated graphics on the Portugal, Spain and Greece factsheets.

Date:

23/11/11

Factsheet(s):

Portugal, Greece, Spain.

Reason:

Extended the Portugal, Spain and Greece factsheet to create three individual factsheets to cover each country in more detail.

Date:

11/11/11

Factsheet(s):

October 2011 EU Updates

Reason:

Added October EU updates

Date:

04/11/11

Factsheet(s):

European Central Bank President

Reason:

Updated European Central Bank President to Mario Draghi

Date:

25/10/11

Factsheet(s):

Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia, Ireland and Denmark and Poland

Reason:

Added Montenegro's progress towards accession negotiations, added outcomes of September 2011 Danish elections and October 2011 Polish elections.

Date:

18/10/11

Factsheet(s):

Czech Republic and Slovakia

Reason:

Added October 2011 call for snap elections following disagreement about EFSF expansion.

Date:

15/09/11

Factsheet(s):

Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), History of the EU and September 2011 EU Updates

Reason:

Added July 2011 EU Commission CFP reform proposal. Amended wording of History of the EU and added September 2011 EU updates.

Date:

15/09/11

Factsheet(s):

August 2011 EU Updates

Reason:

Added August monthly EU updates.

Date:

13/09/11

Factsheet(s):

EU Trade Distortions

Reason:

Uploaded EU Trade Distortions research.

Date:

04/08/11

Factsheet(s):

July 2011 EU Updates

Reason:

Added July monthly EU updates.

Date:

21/07/11

Factsheet(s):

Charter of Fundamental Rights, EU Citizenship, EU integration, EU Political Parties, Single Market, Taxation, Euro:EMU, European Monetary System, Stabilty and Growth Pact, Competition Policy, EU Energy Policy, Schengen Convention, Common Foreign and Security Policy, Common Security and Defence Policy, Development and the ACP Countries, EU Commission, Council of the European Union,EU Parliament, Court of Justice of the EU and Council of Europe.

Reason:

Charter of Fundamental Rights, updated wording. EU Citizenship, updated quotes. EU integration, updated wording. EU political parties, updated the number of members in the political groups. Single Market and Taxation factsheets, updated facts and figures. Updated Euro:EMU factsheet with details of second Greece bailout. EMS, updated links. SGP, added details of the Portuguese bailout and Greece's second bailout. Competition Policy, upadted facts and figures. EU Energy Policy, updated details on the Energy 2020 initiative. Schengen Convention, updated information on Denmark reintroducing border controls and on Bulgaria and Romania not being allowed to join yet. CFSP, updated QMV figures. CSDP, updated number of ongoing missions abroad. Development and the ACP Countries, updated facts and figures. EU Commission, updated quotes. Council of the European Union, updated arguments against, facts and figures and links. EP, updated MEP wages to 7,957 euros per month, updated EP budget for 2011. Court of Justice of the EU, updated facts and figures, and clarified name changes since the Lisbon treaty. Council of Europe, updated 2011 budget.

Date:

21/07/11

Factsheet(s):

Common Agricultural Policy, Common Fisheries Policy, European Central Bank, European Investment Bank, European Investment Fund, EU Ombudsman, European Economic and Social Committee and Committee of the Regions.

Reason:

Updated CAP reductions levels for 2011. Updated CAP costs to Britain per year. In CFP, updated many TACs reduced for 2011. ECB factsheet, updated results of Italian Mario Draghi who will become President from Nov 2011, EIB factsheet, updated facts and figures. EIF, updated wording. EU Ombudsman, updated facts and figures and updated history paragraph. European Economic and Social Committee Factsheet,updated 344 in assembly, Staffan Nilsson as president and updated budget for 2011. Committee of the Regions, updated budget for 2011, Added CoR strengthened by Lisbon treaty.

Date:

07/07/11

Factsheet(s):

Hungary,

Reason:

Updated Hungary no longer holder of the EU rotating Presidency and updated stats and links.

Date:

07/07/11

Resource(s):

Speakers' Factfile

Reason:

Updated EU speakers' factfile with more latest Eurostat/OECD stats.

Date:

06/07/11

Resource(s):

The EU: An Introduction from the Eurosceptic perspective, The EU: A Eurosceptic view

Reason:

Updated EU speaker PowerPoints for visiting schools.

Date:

01/07/11

Factsheet(s):

June Monthly Update

Reason:

Added EU monthly updates for June 2011.

Date:

23/05/11

Factsheet(s):

Euro and EMU Worksheet

Reason:

Updated 16 Eurozone members to 17.

Date:

16/05/11

Factsheet(s):

Sweden, Finland and Austria

Reason:

Updated Finland regarding the parliamentary elections April 2011 and success of True Finns, who oppose the Portuguese bailout. Updated 'Fact' at bottom of page.

Date:

11/05/11

Factsheet(s):

Iceland

Reason:

Updated Iceland factsheet with the result of the second Icesave referendum.

Date:

05/05/11

Factsheet(s):

April Monthly Update

Reason:

April Monthly Update

Date:

04/04/11

Factsheet(s):

Transport, Portugal and March Monthly Update

Reason:

Updated details of transport White Paper, the Portuguese PM's resignation and the March Monthly Update.

Date:

11/03/11

Factsheet(s):

Ireland and Denmark

Reason:

Confirmed details of the new Irish coalition government.

Date:

04/03/11

Factsheet(s):

February Monthly Updates

Reason:

Added February EU updates.

Date:

02/03/11

Factsheet(s):

Denmark and Ireland

Reason:

Updated first stage of Irish election results (PM to be chosen 9th March) and corrected spelling of Fianna Fail Party.

Date:

25/02/11

Factsheet(s):

European Neighbourhood Policy

Reason:

Graphic updated to show ENP countries.

Date:

11/02/11

Factsheet(s):

European Investment Bank

Reason:

Corrected spelling mistake in online version.

Date:

09/02/11

Factsheet(s):

Transport

Reason:

Added further details on Galileo project.

Date:

04/02/11

Factsheet(s):

January Monthly Update

Reason:

Added January EU updates.

Date:

02/02/11

Factsheet(s):

Schengen Convention

Reason:

Number of countries in Schengen Convention changed to 25. Updated Bulgaria and Romania's Schengen accession progress.

Date:

27/01/11

Factsheet(s):

Treaty of Rome

Reason:

Amended spelling in quote on Treaty of Rome

Date:

11/01/11

Factsheet(s):

EU Enlargement, Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia, The Baltic States, The Euro: EMU, Stability and Growth Pact and Treaty of Lisbon.

Reason:

Montenegro became an official candidate country in December. Estonia joined the Euro in January. Added amendments to the Treaty of Lisbon.

Date:

10/01/11

Factsheet(s):

EU Enlargement and The Baltic States.

Reason:

Added details of Lisbon Treaty amendment agreed in December 2010 (to allow for the creation of a permenant bailout mechanism). Estonia joined the Eurozone on 1 January 2011.

Date:

07/01/11

Factsheet(s):

EU Budget, Environmental Policy and December Monthly Update.

Reason:

Added details of 2011 EU budget. Added details of UN Climate Change Summit in Cancun, December 2010. Added summary of EU events from December 2010.

Date:

05/01/11

Factsheet(s):

Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

Reason:

Updated the Belgium rotating EU Council of Ministers Presidency, which finished 31st December 2010

Date:

04/01/11

Factsheet(s):

Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Albania, Hungary and Slovenia, Euro-zone map and Ireland and Denmark.

Reason:

Croatia closed 3 more negotiating chapters in accession process. Hungary took over the EU rotating 6 month presidency on 1st January 2011. Corrected spelling of Hungarian currency, the forint. Updated Euro-zone map to include Estonia. Updated Irish bailout information.

Date:

07/12/10

Factsheet(s):

November Monthly Update

Reason:

Added summary of EU events from November 2010.

Date:

03/12/10

Factsheet(s):

Main menu

Reason:

Inserted blurb and link to Eurocrisis report.

Date:

29/11/10

Factsheet(s):

Ireland and Denmark.

Reason:

Updated Irish bailout figure.

Date:

24/11/10

Factsheet(s):

Links and Glossary.

Reason:

Fixed and updated links. Extended, updated and reformatted glossary.

Date:

23/11/10

Factsheet(s):

Ireland.

Reason:

Inserted mention of Ireland's EU/IMF bailout in November 2010.

Date:

18/11/10

Factsheet(s):

European Single Market.

Reason:

Added recent quote from Michel Barnier, EU Internal Market Commissioner.

Date:

12/11/10

Factsheet(s):

Sweden, Finland and Austria.

Reason:

Added reference to September 2010 Swedish election when Prime Minister was Reinfelt re-elected to lead a minority Coalition Government.

Date:

11/11/10

Factsheet(s):

Court of Auditors, Overview of the EU, History of the EU and October 2010 EU updates summary.

Reason:

Court of Auditors: updated the number of years the EU accounts have not been signed off to 16. Overview of the EU: added links to new factsheets (and updated link to maps section). History of the EU: added links to new factsheets. EU Events summary: uploaded a summary of events within the EU in October 2010.

Date:

27/10/10

Factsheet(s):

Timeline of EU Integration, UK political parties' positions on the EU, Iceland, EFTA and the EEA, EU-USA relations, EU relations with Norway and Switzerland and The Eurozone Crisis.

Reason:

Lauched a series of new factsheets along with a detailed summary of the Eurozone crisis.

Date:

21/10/10

Factsheet(s):

The Baltic States.

Reason:

Inserted details about Latvia's October 2010 Parliamentary election.

Date:

15/10/10

Factsheet(s):

Stability and Growth Pact and External Trade.

Reason:

Stability and Growth Pact: updated reference to effects of the 2008 global economic downturn. External Trade: updated information on current WTO round (Doha) and extended technical terms.

Date:

12/10/10

Factsheet(s):

Economics and Finance, Environment, Energy and Food, Social Europe, Justice and Home Affairs, Europe 2020 strategy, CFSP, Schengen Convention, External Relations and European Monetary System.

Reason:

Economics and Finance: extended technical terms. Environment, Energy, Food: extended technical terms and included explanation of Emissions Trading System, and inserted new links. Social Europe: added new links and further hyperlinks. JHA: updated links and extended technical terms. Europe 2020 strategy: extended technical terms, clarified and simplified language. European Monetary System: extended technical terms. CFSP: updated technical terms and clarifity content. Schengen Convention: updated links and reference to Cyprus due to join the Schengen zone. External relations: updated reference to the EEAS and updated quotes.

Date:

11/10/10

Factsheet(s):

Italy, France, EU Ombudsman, Treaty of Rome, Taxation and Single Market.

Reason:

Italy: updated the number of Italian MEPs (reduced to 72 after the 2009 EP elections). France: updated the number of French MEPs (also reduced to 72 in 2009). EU Ombudsman: updated quotes. Treaty of Rome: corrected a quote and added a new link. Taxation: updated technical terms and reworded phrasing for simplicity. Single Market: updated technical terms amd included further links to other factsheets.

Date:

08/10/10

Factsheet(s):

Lawmaking and the Legislative Process, The Lisbon Treaty and Benelux.

Reason:

Lawmaking and Leg process: deleted a link and included Commission's ability to propose 'decisions'. Lisbon Treaty: updated links, mentioned Treaty's abolition of the Maastricht Treaty's pillar system and EU Parliament elections results must be considered when proposing a Commission President. Benelux: inserted results of Dutch coalition negotiations (following the June general election).

Date:

06/10/10

Factsheet(s):

Common Fisheries Policy, Turkey and Benelux.

Reason:

CFP: added new link. Turkey: added new link and mentioned that no substantial progress has been made on Turkey-Cyprus relations. Benelux: updated progress on Dutch and Belgian coalition negotiations.

Date:

05/10/10

Factsheet(s):

September 2010 EU updates Summary, Structural Funds, Buglaria and Romania, Czech Republic and Slovakia, Sweden, Finland and Austria, Bosnia, Serbia and Montenegro, European Neighbouhood Policy, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Albania, European Court of Justice, EU Economic and Social Committee and Germany.

Reason:

Structural Funds: added new links. Buglaria and Romania: added 2 new links. Czech Rep and Slovakia: added new links and reworded final sections for clarity. Sweden, Finland and Austria: removed mentioned of Sweden' previous EU Presidency and changed some formatting. Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro: updated all links and changed reference to EU recognising Kosovo's independence (listed members that didn't). ENP: updated links and reworded explanation of Action Plans. Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Albania: added news links and corrected reference to 35 negotiating chapters. ECJ: updated links. EESC: added new link and simplfied langugage. Germany: corrected spelling of Christian Wulff's name, and state legislature (Landesrecht).

Date:

01/10/10

Factsheet(s):

Council of the EU, EU Institutions, European Integration, EU budget, EU Treaties, Treaty of Amsterdam, Treaty of Nice, Single European Act, Baltic States, Cyprus and Malta, Transport, EU Enlargement, Maastricht Treaty, European Investment Bank and EU law.

Reason:

Council of the EU: inserted extra link and mentioned that the High Representative for Foreign Affairs chairs foreign policy meetings. EU Institutions: simlified language to explain the workings of the European Council, and updated links. European Integration: Mentioned that coal and steel are main components needed to wage war. EU law: replaced broken links. Altered reference to 1993 German Brunner judgement. EU budget: inserted reference ot budget being 1% EU GNI. EU Treaties: simplified wording and inserted further technical terms. Treaty of Nice: updated all links, rephrased and corrected quotes. Treaty of Amsterdam: updated all links. SEA: inserted that the Treaty allowed the EP to veto accession of future member states. Also updated quotes and inserted new links. Baltic States: updated reference to Estonia due to join the Eurozone in Jan 2011. Cyprus and Malta: fixed links and updated identity of Malta's President. Transport: updated links. EU Enlargement: included reference to Iceland's membership negotiations beginning in July 2010, updated links and reworded for clarification. Maastricht Treaty: inserted new links and simplified explanations. European Investment Bank: inserted reference to Europe 2020 strategy and corrected formatting.

Date:

30/09/10

Factsheet(s):

Charter of Fundamental Rights, Immigration and Asylum, European Investment Fund and Britain.

Reason:

Added new links to CFR and Britain factsheets. Also, updated reference to British Coalition Government promise of referenda on any future transfer of powers from the UK to the EU. Reformatted and revised Immigration and Asylum factsheet. Updated reference to the Europe 2020 strategy on the European Investment Fund factsheet.

Date:

28/09/10

Factsheet(s):

Speakers Factfile.

Reason:

Updated with all available data.

Date:

24/09/10

Factsheet(s):

Euro: EMU.

Reason:

Revised and reworded factsheet.

Date:

20/09/10

Factsheet(s):

Sweden, Finland and Austria.

Reason:

Updated information on the Swedish government following the election in September 2010. The ruling 4-party centre-right coalition lost votes to the far-right Sweden Democrats. Prime Minister Reinfelt said he would try to form a majority government by inviting the Green Party to join the ruling coalition.

Date:

03/09/10

Factsheet(s):

August 2010 Update summary, Maps and Stats.

Reason:

Uploaded summary of events from within the EU in August 2010. Shaded Iceland as an EU candidate country on relevant maps, and updated data on EU stats pages.

Date:

01/09/10

Factsheet(s):

Common Security and Defence Policy, EU Energy Policy and European Neighbourhood Policy.

Reason:

Changed name of EU policy to 'Common' Security and Defence Policy (as established under the Lisbon Treaty) and included reference to 14 current CSDP missions. Also, simplified language and inserted new link. Updated status of ENP Action Plans and Association Agreements and extended technical terms. Updated developments on Energy Policy, including: Russia stopped gas into Belarus in 2010. 'Nabucco' pipeline is expected to cost €7.9bn, with the EU contributing up to €2bn. Mentioned 'South Stream' pipeline due to be completed in 2015. And in 2010, the EU Commission requested that 20 Member States work harder to implement rules creating a single market for gas and electricity.

Date:

27/08/10

Factsheet(s):

European Court of Justice, Development and ACP countries, Committee of the Regions (CoR), Environment and Competition.

Reason:

Updated facts and figures on ECJ cases. Mentioned predictions that EU states will fail to hit aid targets. Updated CoR's expected expenditure for 2010. Mentioned fears that EU states won't meet their 'green' targets. Included details of EU's biggest fine to date (Intel) and that only 1 merger was disallowed under EU competition policy in 2005-09.

Date:

25/08/10

Factsheet(s):

Benelux, Turkey, Court of Auditors and Council of Europe.

Reason:

Updated Luxembourg's GDP per head figure (latest available is for 2008). Updated Turkey's GDP figure. Updated Court of Auditors data on accounting errors in Cohesion spending in 2008. Inserted Council of Europe budget figure for 2010 and updated President of the Parliamentary Assembly (Gavusoglu was elected in 2010).

Date:

24/08/10

Factsheet(s):

European Central Bank, Spain, Portugal and Greece, Germany, Denmark and Ireland, Serbia, montenegro, BiH, Turkey and Economic and Social Committee.

Reason:

Updated data on ECB reserves from Banque de France and Bundesbank. Added comment that whilst Spain's 2010 EU Presidency was criticised for being 'invisible', Spain did progress Croatian memebrship talks. Referenced that Germany's CDU Party did badly in May elections due to the eurozone bailout plan. Mentioned affect of the economic crash on Denmark and Ireland's economies, including new data on unemployment. Included ICC ruling that Kosovo declaration of independence wasn't illegal. updated EEESC budget figure for 2009 and inserted call to abolish the committee following the 2008 economic crash. Updated figure on Turkey's national debt as % of GDP. Fixed some links.

Date:

20/08/10

Factsheet(s):

European Investment Bank, CAP, European Central Bank, Romania and Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovenia, Czech Republic and Slovakia and The Baltic States.

Reason:

Updated data on EIB loans and profit figures, and inserted reference to Europe 2020 strategy (which replaced the Lisbon Strategy). Inserted proposal for CAP reform to include farmers' pay insurance scheme, and updated data on farming employment and average income. Mentioned ECB's purchasing of government bonds to stabilise the eurozone in June and May 2010. Inserted GDP growth figures for the Baltic States, Hungary, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Slovakia. Mentioned Bulgaria's falling population and rise in percentage of population living below the poverty line. Fixed factsheet links: Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovenia. Inserted reference to Slovakia's centre-right government needing to work through the global economic downturn.

Date:

13/08/10

Factsheet(s):

European Council, Single Market, Euro and Citizenship.

Reason:

Updated reference to UK Prime Minister, David Cameron. Clarified section on phone tariffs and mentioned Commission proposal (Aug 2010) for an EU-wide tax, perhaps levied on air travel or financial transactions. In euro factsheet, included definition of 'optimal currency area' and expanded explanation of ECB role to control inflation. Updated EU population figure to 501m.

Date:

06/08/10

Factsheet(s):

Enlargement, European Neighbourhood Policy and July 2010 update summary.

Reason:

Added Iceland as an offical EU candidate country and uploaded July 2010 update summary. Mentioned launch of negotiations on an Association Agreement with Georgia in July 2010.

Date:

15/07/10

Factsheet(s):

The Czech Republic and Slovakia and European Commission.

Reason:

Inserted reference to new Czech Prime Minister, Petr Necas of the Civic Democrat Party. He will lead a centre-right coalition government which includes the Civic Democrats party, the conservative TOP 09 party and the Public Affairs party. Updated number of Commission Directorates Generals (to 30) following the decision to split the Justice, Freedom and Security DG into two separate directorates: DG for Justice and DG for Home Affairs.

Date:

07/07/10

Factsheet(s):

Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg and Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Reason:

Inserted reference to new German President, Christian Wullf of the Christian Democrats party. And mentioned the start of Belgium's Presidency of the Council of the EU (July-Dec 2010). Also updated information on new Slovakian coalition government - a 4-party centre-right coalition took office in July 2010 under new Prime Minister Iveta Radicova.

Date:

06/07/10

Factsheet(s):

EU Events Archive.

Reason:

Uploaded summary of events from within the EU in June 2010.

Date:

29/06/10

Factsheet(s):

Finland and Single Market.

Reason:

Updated following Mari Kiviniemi's appointment as Prime Minister of Finland and included an example of Commission regulating competition (fined bathroom companies €622m).

Date:

22/06/10

Factsheet(s):

Europe 2020 strategy, Euro and Transport.

Reason:

Included Europe 2020 strategy headline goals, European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) created to provide up to €440bn worth of loans to struggling eurozone states, and EU plan to create a "truly" Single European Sky by 2012.

Date:

16/06/10

Factsheet(s):

Environment and The Single Market.

Reason:

Updated and edited Environment factsheet, and inserted a new link. Inserted information about the "Eurotariff" controlling mobile phone prices.

Date:

14/06/10

Factsheet(s):

European Neighbourhood Policy, Slovakia and Belgium.

Reason:

Mentioned Belgian and Slovakian general elections (both resulting in coalition negotiations) and new EU-Russia "Partnership for Modernisation" agreement.

Date:

03/06/10

Factsheet(s):

EU Monthly Update Summaries.

Reason:

Uploaded summary of events within the EU in May 2010.

Date:

26/05/10

Factsheet(s):

EU Institutions and United Kingdom.

Reason:

Following May 2010 UK General Election, included reference to Conservative-Lib Dem coalition government, led by Conservative Party Leader, David Cameron.

Date:

14/05/10

Factsheet(s):

Maps and Stats and Member States.

Reason:

Sharpened and updated all Maps, and fixed links.

Date:

30/04/10

Factsheet(s):

Poland, Austria, Hungary, Belgium, EU Ombudsman and Taxation.

Reason:

Reference to collapse of Belgian Government in April 2010 (National Election to be held in June 2010). Included outcome of 2010 Hungarian General Election, reference to Ombudsman annual report for 2009, updated graphics on Poland and Taxation factsheets.

Date:

19/04/10

Factsheet(s):

Hungary, European Neighbourhood Policy, Immigration and Asylum, Environment, EU Glossary and Council of the EU.

Reason:

Reference to conservative party victory over the ruling Socialists in the 2010 Hungarian General Election. Mentioned Barcelona Process relaunched as Union for Mediterranean in 2008. Included reference to Frontext with explanation of the EU body which works for cooperation on external borders, Changed ETS reference to Emissions Trading "System", rather than "Scheme". EU Glossary fully extended and removed reference to "first pillar" of EU policy (as reformed under the Lisbon Treaty).

Date:

14/04/10

Factsheet(s):

Poland.

Reason:

Included reference to Bronislaw Komorowski, 'acting' President since Polish President Lech Kaczynski was killed in a plane crash in April 2010.

Date:

13/04/10

Factsheet(s):

Turkey and Development and ACP countries.

Reason:

Updated information about Turkey's national debt for 2009. Included reference to March 2010 revision of the Cotonou Agreement between EU and ACP countries.

Date:

15/03/10

Factsheet(s):

Social Europe, EU 20:20 Strategy, Economics and Finance, Stability and Growth Pact, Czech Republic and Slovakia and Social Europe.

Reason:

Redrafted Lisbon Strategy factsheet following its replacement with the EU 20:20 strategy. Included references to new strategy in relevant factsheets. Inserted reference to calls for the EU to penalise eurozone members' spiralling debt as a result of the recession. Mentioned Slovakian law passed to crack down on income from crime and corruption.

Date:

04/03/10

Factsheet(s):

Social Europe, Environment Policy, Spain, Energy Policy, Immigration and Asylum and CAP.

Reason:

Updated information on the EU Temporary Workers Directive (UK chosen to implement it at latest possible date due to recession). Spain recorded the highest youth unemployment in the EU in December 2009. EU banned 100w incandescent light bulbs in 2009 and the ECJ ruled EU states can set their own limits on CO2 emissions. A number of EU states signed up to the Nabucco gas pipeline in July 2009. European Asylum Support Office (EASO) will be based in Malta. EU agreed to give €17.9m subsidies to the EU dairy industry between 2010-13. Fixed link to European Union guide to the CAP.

Date:

22/02/10

Factsheet(s):

Social Europe, Environment Policy, The Lisbon Strategy.Baltic states, Single Market and December 2009 EU Updates Summary.

Reason:

Updated reference to EU Health care Directive (vetoed by 9 states in Dec 2009) and EU Working Time Directive (postponed until Oct 2011). Details of EU's Landfill Directive. EU Services Directive implemented across EU states in Dec 2009. 2009 EU-wide common tariff for using mobiles abroad, and summary of all EU updates from December 2009.

Date:

16/02/10

Factsheet(s):

EU Energy Policy, Transport and Environment, Energy and Food.Baltic states and Stability and Growth Pact.

Reason:

Updated dwevelopments on proposed European gas pipelines. Updated TEN costs and relevant White Paper to be released during 2010. Updated stats related to EU Environment Policy and 2008 Energy pact, closing down of Lithuania's Soviet-built nuclear. Estonia likely to be accepted into euro in 2010. Information about Greece's financial crisis affecting the eurozone.

Date:

15/02/10

Worksheet(s):

Overview III, EU Institutions and Answer Booklet.

Reason:

Changed tense in sentence 'Which country held the EU Presidency July - December 2009?' Inserted question: 'Who is the President of the European Council?' and updated answer booklet for question 'Who holds 6 month Pres of Council of the EU?'

Date:

12/02/10

Factsheet(s):

European Energy Policy, Immigration and Asylum and Serbia, Bosnia and Montenegro .

Reason:

Inserted ref to EU-US energy council created in 2009, updated annual figures for immigration into the EU, reference to EU Asylum Support Office and Blue Card Adopted May 2009. Bosnia signed SAA, Montenegro and Serbia signed SAA and both formally applied for memebrship of the EU.

Date:

05/02/10

Factsheet(s):

Arguments against EU and Sweden, Austria, Finland

Reason:

For seven out of the last ten years, EU GDP growth has been lower than that of the USA. Verheugen now EU Enterprise and Industry Commissioner. Fixed Finland Government link, added reference to Sweden's 2009 Presidency of the EU Council during implementation of the Lisbon Treaty and the UN Climate Change summit in Copenhagen, corrected spelling of Austria President.

Date:

19/01/10

Factsheet(s):

EU Institutions, Lawmaking and Legislative Process, EU Budget, European Council, EU Court of Auditors European Enlargement , Spain, Portugal and Greece.

Reason:

Updated number of EU Civil Servants. Inserted reference to co-decision as the "Ordinary Legislative Process" under the Lisbon Treaty. Included 2010 EU budget figures and comparison with US budget in 2008. Mentioned EU accounts not signed off for 15 years and auditors report on 2008 accounts. Updated potential EU accession statuses of Serbia, FYR Macedonia, Iceland, Turkey and Montenegro. Updated details of Portugal and Greece government following elections in 2009.

Date:

21/12/09

Worksheet(s):

Lawmaking and the Legislative Process, Justice and Home Affairs, Common Fisheries Policy, Romania and Bulgaria, Immigration and Asylum.

Reason:

Removed references to EU's former "3 pillar system" (removed under the Lisbon Treaty). Included Romania's 2009 Presidential election. Included negotiations for 2010 CFP quotas and Lisbon Treaty changes to Immigration and Asylum policy.

Date:

18/12/09

Worksheet(s):

Council of the EU.

Reason:

New General Secretary, included Lisbon Treaty increasing use of QMV and creation of the permanaent President.

Date:

16/12/09

Worksheet(s):

Treaty of Lisbon, European Central Bank.

Reason:

Updated factsheet to reflect Lisbon Treaty coming into force in December 2009; ECB formally became an EU institution.

Date:

14/12/09

Worksheet(s):

JHA.

Reason:

Updated since Stockholm Programme replaced Hague Programme in guiding EU policy on JHA.

Date:

11/12/09

Worksheet(s):

EU Treaties, Overview I, Overview III.

Reason:

Updated references to Lisbon Treaty (abolished pillar system and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs.

Date:

07/12/09

Factsheet(s):

CFSP, Taxation.

Reason:

Following Lisbon Treaty entering into force, updated details of British Commissioner; Catherine Ashton as first High Rep of Union on Foreign and Security Policy. Updated Lisbon Treaty's affect on taxation in the EU (protocols included following Ireland's first referencum promised tax harmonisation still subject to unanimous vote.

Date:

04/12/09

Factsheet(s):

Denmark and Ireland, Germany, JHA, CFR.

Reason:

Included details of 2009 German General Election, reduced number of German MEPs elected in 2009, fixed weblink. Updated identity of Denmark's PM, unemployment rates and fall in GDP during the economic troubles. Updated all references to the Lisbon Treaty following its full ratification, including that it made the CFR legally binding. Included details of the Stockholm Programme, which will guide JHA policy for 2010-2014.

Date:

25/11/09

Factsheet(s):

EU Political Parties, ECJ

Reason:

Included changes to the ECJ powers following the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. Updated names and compisiton of EU political parties.

Date:

24/11/09

Factsheet(s):

Social Europe, JHA, EU Foreign Policy, EU Commission

Reason:

Updated status of Charter of Fundamental Rights following ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, its extension of EU powers into JHA for the first time, creation of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs (scrapping the High Commissioner), and creation of new EU diplomatic service.

Date:

23/11/09

Factsheet(s):

EU Institutions, EU Integration, EU Citizenship.

Reason:

Updated institutional changes following ratification of the Lisbon Treaty.

Date:

20/11/09

Factsheet(s):

Overview of the EU, History of the EU, Lawmaking and Legislative Process, EU Treaties, EU Law.

Reason:

Updated full ratification of the Lisbon Treaty and its implementation date of December 2009.

Date:

03/11/09

Factsheet(s):

Overview of the EU.

Reason:

Included Lisbon Treaty ratification in November 2009.

Date:

25/09/09

Factsheet(s):

Development and the ACP countries.

Reason:

Updated status of EPA negotiations with ACP countries.

Date:

23/09/09

Factsheet(s):

France.

Reason:

Updated specific dates of France's EU Presidency in 2008.

Date:

18/09/09

Factsheet(s):

European Commission.

Reason:

Content updated following Barroso's re-election as Commission President for the 2009-2014 Parliamentary term.

Date:

14/09/09

Factsheet(s):

EU Worksheet: Overview III, Maps and Stats and EU Worksheet: European Parliament.

Reason:

Updated to include Sweden's Presidency of the EU Council and the names of the Groupings in the EU parliament following the June 2009 election. Maps and Stats updated to include latest figures.

Date:

08/09/09

Factsheet(s):

Links.

Reason:

Links to external sites updated.

Date:

04/09/09

Factsheet(s):

August 2009 EU Updates Summary.

Reason:

Summary of events from within the EU during August.

Date:

25/08/09

Factsheet(s):

EU Budget, European Parliament, EU Political Parties, EU Court of Auditors, Council of Europe Poland.

Reason:

Updated EU Budget figures. Cited changes following the 2009 European Parliament elections - including its new President Jerzy Buzek, new Grouping - European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR)and changes to the names of further EP Groupings. Updated account of errors in EU Auditors 2006 annual report. Updated new Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly President (Lluis Mardia de Puig) and Luxembourg's most recent GDP per head.

Date:

14/08/09

Factsheet(s):

EU Treaties, Arguments against the EU, Immigration and Asylum, Sweden, Finland and Austria.

Reason:

Included reference to May 2009 Immigration Directive and Sweden's Presidency of the EU Council. Fixed links.

Date:

05/08/09

Factsheet(s):

EU Treaties. Arguments against the EU.

Reason:

Updated with reference to Ireland's second Lisbon Treaty referendum on 2nd October 2009. Included reference to budget negotiations due to start in 2013.

Date:

04/08/09

Factsheet(s):

July 2009 EU Updates summary.

Reason:

Compiled a summary of events from within the EU in July 2009.

Date:

09/07/09

Factsheet(s):

Denmark and Ireland.

Reason:

Updated following Ireland's announcement that the country's second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty will take place on 2nd October 2009.

Date:

06/07/09

Factsheet(s):

Bulgaria and Romania.

Reason:

Updated to include the results of the Bulgarian General Election of July 2009. Boiko Borisov's centre-right Citizens for the European Development of Bulgaria (Gerb) party beat the incumbent Socialist party.

Date:

26/06/09

Factsheet(s):

EU Updates May 2009.

Reason:

A Summary of events in the EU during May 2009.

Date:

25/06/09

Factsheet(s):

Speakers Factfile.

Reason:

Updated to include the most up-to-date and reliable statistics available from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) or Eurostat.

Date:

23/06/09

Factsheet(s):

Transport, European Energy Policy, The Euro, Competition, The Single Market

Reason:

Updated to include 2009 Ukraine-Russia energy dispute and resulting EU energy crisis, and Galileo implementation schedule. Links fixed.

Date:

22/06/09

Factsheet(s):

Stability and Growth Pact and Charter of Fundamental Rights

Reason:

Updated to include 2008-9 global economic crisis and link added.

Date:

20/06/09

Factsheet(s):

Structural Funds and Maps and Stats

Reason:

Data and links updated.

Date:

19/06/09

Factsheet(s):

2009 European Parliament Election summary

Reason:

Analysis of 2009 EP election added.

Date:

18/06/09

Factsheet(s):

April 2009 EU Updates summary.

Reason:

Summary of events in Aprils 2009 added.

Date:

16/06/09

Factsheet(s):

Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

Reason:

Content updated to include the collapse of the Latvian Government in 2009.

Date:

15/06/09

Factsheet(s):

EU Security and Defence Policy

Reason:

Updated number of EU civilian and military operations and fixed links.

Date:

12/06/09

Factsheet(s):

Czech Republic and Slovakia

Reason:

Content updated to include collapse of Czech Government in 2009 during its Presidency of the EU. Also updated recent economic performance in both countries and Slovakia's membership of the eurozone in 2009.

Date:

11/06/09

Factsheet(s):

Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia, European Neighbourhood Policy

Reason:

Updated to include ENP developments: launch of the 'Union for the Mediterranean' in 2008 and the 'Eastern Partnership' in 2009. Serbia's 2008 election and signing of the SAA, and arrest of Radovan Karadzic in 2008 also included. All links updated.

Date:

10/06/09

Factsheet(s):

Overview of the EU, Arguments against the EU

Reason:

Number of MEPs updated following the 2009 Euro election. Links updated.

Date:

09/06/09

Factsheet(s):

Bulgaria and Romania, Hungary and Slovenia

Reason:

Included the affect of the global economic crisis on member states' economies. Included the Romanian Parliamentary election in 2008 and fixed external links.

Date:

08/06/09

Factsheet(s):

European Institutions, European Parliament, EU Party Politics.

Reason:

Number of MEPs, membership of EP political groupings and turnout statistics updated following the 2009 Euro election.

Date:

05/06/09

Factsheet(s):

Sweden, FInland and Austria.

Reason:

Updated to include the 2008 Austrian election.

Date:

04/06/09

Factsheet(s):

Spain, Portugal and Greece.

Reason:

Updated to include political unrest in Greece in 2008.

Date:

03/06/09

Factsheet(s):

Denmark and Ireland.

Reason:

Updated to include Ireland's pledge to hold a second Lisbon Treaty referendum during 2009.

Date:

02/06/09

Factsheet(s):

Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

Reason:

Updated to include the political instability that followed Belgium's inconclusive General Election in 2007.

Date:

01/06/09

Factsheet(s):

Italy.

Reason:

Updated to include Silvo Berlusconi's election as Prime Minsiter in 2008.

Date:

28/05/09

Factsheet(s):

Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, Spain, Portugal and Greece, Justice and Home Affairs Policy.

Reason:

All External links updated.

Date:

26/05/09

Factsheet(s):

Cyprus and Malta.

Reason:

Updated to include 2009 negotiations for the reunification of Cyprus. Content also updated to include Malta's 2008 General Election.

Date:

21/05/09

Factsheet(s):

The Baltic States.

Reason:

Updated to include the collapse of Latvia's Government in March 2009, Lithuania's Presidential election in May 2009 and changes to Estonia's ruling coalition government. All external links updated.

Date:

05/11/08

Factsheet(s):

Policies, Single Market and EMU, Social and Regional Policy, External Relations

Reason:

All content reviewed, amended and reformatted.

Date:

26/09/07

Factsheet(s):

Policies, Single Market and EMU, Social and Regional Policy, External Relations

Reason:

All sheets reformatted to new style and redrafted where necessary.

Date:

24/09/07

Factsheet(s):

Member States and Enlargement

Reason:

All sheets reformatted to new style, and redrafted to reflect recent developments in each country.

Date:

21/09/07

Factsheet(s):

EU Constitution

Reason:

Sheet completely redrafted to reflect the shift of constitutional debate from the failed Treaty of 2004, to the currently proposed Reform Treaty.

Date:

19/09/07

Factsheet(s):

Treaties Factsheets

Reason:

All sheets reformatted to new style.

Date:

18/09/07

Factsheet(s):

History of the European Union

Reason:

Sheet updated to include recent debate over the Reform Treaty

Date:

12/09/07

Factsheet(s):

EU Institutions Factsheets

Reason:

All 'Institution' sheets reformatted to new style. Changes made to: European Council, Court of Auditors, Council of Europe and ECJ sheets to reflect the 2007 expansion of the EU, and the provisions of the proposed Reform Treaty. 'Political Parties' sheet updated to show recent changes in party allegiances.

Date:

04/05/07

Factsheet(s):

Common Foreign and Security Policy

Reason:

Sheet updated to provide fresh examples of the workings of the CFSP.

Date:

30/04/07

Factsheet(s):

Overview Sheets, EU Facts

Reason:

All factsheets in EU Facts re-categorised and all overview sheets re-formatted to a new, more accesible, style in response to teacher feedback. Ultimately, all factsheets will be converted to this new style.

Date:

25/04/07

Factsheet(s):

Development & the ACP countries

Reason:

New factsheet added to EU Facts on the EU's role in development, in particular concerning African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.

Date:

25/04/07

Factsheet(s):

External Trade

Reason:

Sheet updated to include reference to the EU agreeing to open free trade talks with India and the ASEAN countries; and to remove tariffs on agricultural produce imported from ACP countries.

Date:

20/04/07

Factsheet(s):

Justice & Home Affairs

Reason:

Sheet updated to include reference to the Council of the European Union agreeing to incorporate the provisions of the Prum Treaty into EU law (Feb 07).

Date:

20/04/07

Factsheet(s):

European Parliament

Reason:

Sheet updated to reflect Hans-Gert Pottering's election as the new President of the EP.

Date:

17/04/07

Factsheet(s):

Finland, Sweden & Austria, The Baltic States

Reason:

Sheets updated to reflect government/coalition changes in Finland and Estonia, following recent elections.

Date:

29/03/07

Factsheet(s):

Lawmaking & Legislative Process

Reason:

Added to sheet to include a diagram explaining the legislative process in the EU.

Date:

29/03/07

Factsheet(s):

Maps & Stats

Reason:

Added to sheet to include maps showing EU members, enlargement, the eurozone, Schengen area and Western Balkans enlargement negotiations.

Date:

21/03/07

Factsheet(s):

Austria, Finland & Sweden

Reason:

Sheet updated to reflect the narrow victory of the incumbent Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen's Centre Party in the Finnish parliamentary election. Coalition negotiations are underway.

Date:

16/03/07

Factsheet(s):

Enlargement, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Albania, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Hercegovina

Reason:

Western Balkans factsheet split into two new factsheets to reflect the Commission's decision to initiate a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with Montenegro, and to update the situation regarding Serbia's SAA and Kosovo.

Date:

12/03/07

Factsheet(s):

EU Environmental Policy, EU Energy Policy, Environment, Energy & Food

Reason:

Sheets updated to reflect the decision at the latest EU Summit to set a target for a 20% reduction in carbon emissions, and for 20% of energy to come from renewable sources, by 2020.

Date:

05/03/07

Factsheet(s):

The Baltic States

Reason:

Sheet updated to reflect the victory of the incumbent Prime Minister Andrus Ansip's Reform Party in the Estonian parliamentary election. Coalition negotiations are underway.

Date:

28/02/07

Factsheet(s):

EU Energy Policy

Reason:

Sheet updated to include reference to the recent EU Commission report on progress in liberalising the energy sector and to the proposed NEGP gas pipeline.

Date:

28/02/07

Factsheet(s):

EU Environmental Policy

Reason:

Sheet updated to include reference to recent EU Commission proposals to force car manufacturers to cut emissions by 20% and to introduce harmonised penalties for environmental crimes.

Date:

01/02/07

Factsheet(s):

Benelux Nations, Austria, Finland & Sweden, Czech Republic & Slovakia

Reason:

Sheets updated to reflect new coalition governments recently formed in the Netherlands, Belgium and the Czech Republic, following elections last year.

Date:

23/01/07

Factsheet(s):

Common Fisheries Policy

Reason:

Sheet updated to include the latest agreement (Dec 2006) on reducing fish catches.

Date:

18/01/07

Factsheet(s):

European Parliament, European Institutions, EU Political Parties

Reason:

Sheets updated to reflect the election of Hans-Gert Poettering as president of the European Parliament and the new political groupings in the EP as a result of the number of MEPs being increased to 785, following the accession of Bulgaria and Romania.

Date:

04/01/07

Factsheet(s):

EU Summary, Bulgaria & Romania, Enlargement, Arguments for the EU, Arguments against the EU, European Commission

Reason:

Sheets updated to reflect Bulgaria and Romania's accession to the EU. Also updated 'hot topics' section in 'EU Summary' sheet.

Date:

04/01/07

Factsheet(s):

Slovenia & Hungary, Economics & Finance, The Euro & EMU

Reason:

Sheets updated to reflect Slovenia joining the Eurozone.

Date:

12/12/06

Factsheet(s):

Enlargement, Turkey

Reason:

Sheets updated to reflect the decision of EU foreign ministers to follow the Commission's recommendation and suspend accession talks with Turkey on eight of its 35 negotiating chapters.

Date:

12/12/06

Factsheet(s):

European Neighbourhood Policy

Reason:

Sheet updated to account for the European Neighbourhood Policy Instrument replacing the TACIS and MEDA programmes.

Date:

25/10/06

Title:

European Court of Auditors

Reason:

Sheet updated to include the Court's decision not to sign off EU accounts for the twelfth year running.

Date:

25/10/06

Title:

Arguments against the EU

Reason:

Sheet updated to include EU Enterprise Commissioner, Gunter Verheugen's, recent announcement that EU regulation is costing EU business €600bn p.a.

Date:

10/10/06

Title:

Romania and Bulgaria

Reason:

Sheet updated to reflect final decision by European Union to accept Romania and Bulgaria as EU member states from January 1st 2007.

Date:

10/10/06

Title:

The Baltic States

Reason:

Sheet updated to reflect government changes in Estonia following their general election.

Date:

20/09/06

Title:

Sweden, Finland and Austria

Reason:

Sheet updated to reflect government changes in Sweden following their general election.