Access To European Union

This is the 16th edition of this publication which takes an interdisciplinary approach to explore European integration and the development of the European Union, its institutions, laws and policies. Issues discussed include: European treaties, laws and institutions; stages of integration relating to the Customs Union, the Common Market, EMU and the potential for political union; citizens' rights and participation, cultural policies and consumer issues; as well policies relating to taxation and competition, the environment, regional development, industry and enterprise, research and technology, energy, transport, agriculture, external relations, commercial policy and development aid. Full references to EU official texts are given throughout.

This is the 15th edition of this publication which takes an interdisciplinary approach to explore European integration and the development of the European Union, its institutions, laws and policies. Issues discussed include: European treaties, laws and institutions; stages of integration relating to the Customs Union, the Common Market, EMU and the potential for political union; citizens' rights and participation, cultural policies and consumer issues; as well policies relating to taxation and competition, the environment, regional development, industry and enterprise, research and technology, energy, transport, agriculture, external relations, commercial policy and development aid. Full references to EU official texts are given throughout.

Copyright is territorial, but the same cannot be said of the internet, whose borderless nature has changed the way we consume copyright-protected material. Nevertheless, territorial segmentation of online content remains a reality in the 28 member states of the European Union. Licensing and access practices do not reflect this digital reality, in which end-users demand ubiquitous access to content. For this reason, the territorial nature of copyright and traditional business models based on national exploitation prevent the completion of the Digital Single Market. Sebastian Felix Schwemer provides a unique analysis of the dynamic licensing and access arrangements for audiovisual works and music and shows how they are being addressed by sector regulation and competition law in the Digital Single Market. His analysis, which includes case law of the Court of Justice, the Commission's competition proceedings, and various legislative tools, reveals the overlapping nature of legislative and non-legislative regulatory solutions.

All litigants before the General Court of the EU (GC), the Court of Justice of the EU (ECJ) or indeed before any EU body or agency will need to have full access to the documents held by the European Union. Though the legislation regulating the field, Regulation 1049/2001, has been in force for some time, it is a complex field for all would-be litigants. In this book the authors, both experienced practitioners in the area, clearly set out the documentation, access requirements and processes. They include a helpful glossary of terms, tables and appendices setting out the relevant legislation. This will be the seminal text for all practitioners who need to access documentation held by the EU.

In the last 15 years, transparency has been one of the central themes in the European integration process. By providing more openness about its activities, the European Union tries to bring itself closer to its citizens. Transparency is considered one of the main methods to relieve the 'democratic deficit'. One way of increasing transparency is to grant citizens a right to access information. Another way is to actively publish information. Transparency is not an exclusive feature of European integration. On the contrary, inspiration for policies on access to information is mostly drawn from the sometimes longstanding experiences of the member states. Access to Information in the European Union provides for a detailed and useful overview of EC and member state legislation in the field of access to information, highlighting the similarities and differences between national legislation of different member states.

Access to the European Union not only provides a comprehensive overview of European integration, but also offers fresh insight with each revised edition. Thanks to its clear and systematic approach, the book guides the reader through the maze of European Union policies. It throws light upon the European institutions, their raison d'etre, their objectives, and their experience, and it explains EU measures, legal provisions, and economic programs. This 20th edition contains over 2,000 references to the Official Journal of the European Communities and more than 500 bibliographic references, selected by topic so as to help the reader in a deeper study of the subjects of interest.

What purpose does the EU serve? Why and how was it set up? How does it work? What has it already achieved for its citizens, and what new challenges does it face today? In a globalised world, can the EU compete successfully with other major economies while maintaining its social standards? How can immigration be managed? What will Europe’s role be on the world stage in the years ahead? Where will the EU’s boundaries be drawn? And what future is there for the euro? These are just some of the questions explored by EU expert Pascal Fontaine in this 2017 edition of his popular booklet Europe in 12 lessons. Pascal Fontaine is a former assistant to Jean Monnet and former professor at the Institut d’Études Politiques, Paris.