CD-ROM Updates

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.

EU Updates

EU Worksheets