European Union: Resources

EU Business aims to be a context-driven and user-friendly website for business information about the European Union. It provides information on EU laws, business developments, up-to-date information on EU programs for specific sectors, and information on how to do business in European countries. Also, the website lists upcoming conferences and events concerning the EU. Free registration is required to use most of the features.

The Centre Virtuel de la Connaisance sur l'Europe (CVCE), or Centre of European Studies, is a multimedia reference on the history of Europe focused on the European integration process. It has over 3,000 sources on the EU, including the treaties, fact sheets, and key dates on the EU. Interviews from past and current political leaders are also available as resources on the website.

The Enterprise Europe Network helps small to medium-sized businesses looking to find international partners, EU funding, financing options, EU law and standards, and intellectual property standards. They offer several services to help start and maintain a successful business in the European Union. Latest partnering opportunities are updated frequently and a search update is available to match users to their own partnering needs.

The European Central Bank (ECB) is one component of the central banking system of the Euro area. Its prime objective is to maintain the price and stability of the euro. This site provides key financial and economic statistics, procurement information, related legal framework, and other European business-related information.

The Public Opinion sector of the European Commission offers surveys, studies, and reports addressing issues such as citizenship, social situation, culture, and the environment. The site contains a tool called The Eurobarometer which allows users to select from a list of over 50 questions regarding the European Union. Results are then displayed in a graph or table.

The Energy Union section of the European Commission website includes information on various legislation and rules in the European Union relating to sustainable business practices. The website focuses on eco-friendly or “green” concepts, including advice on eco-friendly manufacturing, waste management, and corporate social responsibility & competitiveness, all within a business context.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the financing institution of the European Union (EU). The EIB's mission is to provide long-term financing and support for projects and initiatives within the EU. The site contains information about lending opportunities, types of projects financed, and investor relations. Publications and reports are also available at no charge.

The European Parliament provides an overview of the process of European integration. The site features concise summaries on the topics of how the European Union works, Citizens' rights in Europe, the internal market, economic and monetary union, sectoral policies, and the EU's external relations. Topics discussed are divided into subcategories to elaborate further upon certain aspects. Fact sheets can be downloaded in PDF.

The European Union (EU) encompasses a large part of Europe and aims to be a fair society committed to economic prosperity. This site provides information on policy areas of the European Union and a list of key websites for European Union guides. The page also has a section devoted to the relations between the United States and the European Union, such as the agreements and protocols between the two states. Other information includes publications on the European Union—such as EUFocus and EUInsight—and recent news on related topics. Cultural events, funding details, and academic resources can also be found on the site.

The CIA provides a detailed background on the European Union including information on geography, demographics, government, economy, energy, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues.

The Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA) is responsible for the regulation of medicinal products for human and veterinary use in the European Economic Area. The HMA focuses on the development, coordination, and consistency of the European medical regulatory system. Its site contains information about the authorities of HMA as well as the regulations associated with human and veterinary medicines.

The trade section of the European Union website focuses on trade cooperation with other global regions. It provides information about the commission, structure, legal framework, and programs of the EU external trade cooperation activities. It also provides the latest news on this topic, as well as links to related EU documents. A PDF document is also available which explains the necessity of trade policy, how policy development occurs, trade policy structure, and finally, its future outlook. 

Provided by the European Commission, the Eurostat website includes all the latest statistical news releases of the European Union. Its statistical data covers the economy, industry, trade, agriculture, transportation, environment, and science. The publications section of the site provides recent statistical documents available for download in PDF.

FoodDrinkEurope represents the food and beverage industry of the European Union. The website includes information about industry and policy areas, major press releases, publications, and a listing of events, data, and trends related to these industries.

A service provided by the European Commission in cooperation with member states, consists of a number of databases analyzing market access conditions, barriers to trade, and sanitary and phytosanitary issues for non-EU countries. Access to the SPS Database, Trade Barriers Database, and Statistical Database is free; however, information under the Exporters Guide to Import Formalities and Applied Tariffs is only available to users connecting from any of the 28 European Union member states.

The official website of the European Union includes information on the European Union, life in the EU, and doing business in the EU. Information on policies and links to various publications and documents are also available. The website also offers detailed information on all the industries in the EU. For further details about the EU, the website offers free phone calls and emails.

Tender’s Electronic Daily (TED) is the online version of the "Supplement to the Official Journal of the European Union" and provides business opportunities for countries within the European Union. The website also provides an RSS feed that offers the latest news about the business sectors covered by TED. Registration is required to access some of the information on this site.

The Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry (EUROCHAMBRES) creates, develops, and implements programs that foster European economic development through the Chambers of Commerce and Industry. The organization also publishes an annual economic survey that can be reached online through its website. Recent press releases, position papers, and other documents are posted by date on the homepage.

Trade.gov contains information about the CE (Conformite Europeenne) Marking and a list of countries within the European Union that require the mark. The website has various tools, including guides, labs, and procedures. This resource combines all of the CE Marking information in one place.

The business section of Your Europe provides readers with the practical information and advice to conduct business within the European Union. This site includes information on starting or closing a business in Europe and focuses on topics such as taxation, human resources, intellectual property, trade regulations, funding opportunities and public procurement. Country-specific information on these topics is also available. In addition, there is a directory of organizations and businesses, based on topic or country. This is a multi-lingual site covering many European countries.