Sources

The links gathered on this page give an insight into the inner workings of the EU's only directly-elected institution

European Added Value

European Added Value work identifies needs for action at European level by analysing the potential benefit of future action by the Union or alternatively the costs of not acting.

Foresight, including Scientific Foresight

Foresight is about ensuring understanding of medium- and long-term trends so that policy-makers are as well prepared as possible for challenges, risks and opportunities in the coming decades. In the field of scientific foresight, science and technology options assessment provides advice to Members in the form of studies and events, organised under the guidance of the STOA Panel.

EP Eurobarometer

The European Parliament regularly commissions surveys on public opinion in the Member States. This is a means of keeping Parliament in touch with people's perceptions and expectations of its work and that of the European Union generally.

Policy Departments

The five policy departments are responsible for providing - both in-house and external - high-level independent expertise, analysis and policy advice at the request of committees and other parliamentary bodies. They are closely involved in the work of committees which they support in shaping legislation on and exercising democratic scrutiny over EU policies.

Impact Assessment

Impact Assessment identifies the foreseeable economic, social, environmental and other effects of proposed legislation.

Members' Research Service

The Member's Research Service provides a broad range of research publications on major EU policies, issues and legislation, as well as tailored confidential briefing material for Members.

Economic Governance

Economic Governance Support provides information to Members on the implementation of the economic governance instruments and banking supervision in the Union, in particular in the Euro Area.

Library and Documentary Sources

The European Parliament Library provides access to a wealth of books, journals and periodicals, increasingly electronically. It also hosts the Comparative Law Library, which undertakes research on specific legal issues in various jurisdictions.

Policy Evaluation and Scrutiny

Evaluation of the effects of legislation and policy, and scrutiny of those charged with implementing it, is essential in ensuring the European Parliament, acting as co-legislator, enacts legislation in an effective a form as possible. Dialogue with those at all levels of governance on the effects of EU policy, and on gaps in legislation, is vital in a Union as large and diverse as the EU.

Legislative Observatory

From here you can follow the European decision-making process step by step. Find out what has already happened and what comes next.

Register of documents

The register brings together every official document produced or received by the European Parliament since 3 December 2001. You can search by keyword, author, date, reference number or type of document.

EPRS blog

The blog of the European Parliamentary Research Service provides direct access and contact with the team of professionals helping MEPs in their research and preparatory legislative work.

ESPAS

ESPAS is a unique inter-institutional project aimed at strengthening the EU's efforts in the crucial area of forward planning.

ORBIS - Foresight studies' hub

Visit the world's largest library of prospective studies. Discover the long-term trends that will shape society. Read, learn and contemplate a wide variety of topics that concern you and the rest of the world's citizens.

URBIS - Implementation studies' hub

Everything from national parliaments, regions, cities and social partners related to the Commission Work Programme.

Fact Sheets on the European Union

The Fact Sheets is a concise yet comprehensive source of information providing an overview of European integration and of the European Parliament's contribution to that process. They are updated regularly and can be consulted either within the Think Tank website or on the Fact-sheets webpage.

EU Bookshop

All the EU publications are available in the EU Bookshop, the online bookshop, library and archive of publications by EU institutions.