FAQs

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* 1 Can I get Community assistance in setting up an SME?
* 2 What is the European Parliament doing for human rights?
* 3 Does the European Parliament help the third world?
* 4 Problems with national judicial systems
* 5 Jobs/Recruitment
* 6 Traineeships



top 1 Can I get Community assistance in setting up an SME?

A wide range of funding opportunities are available to European businesses under the various Community policies and programmes.

To find out about the opportunities available to you, contact the local authorities or the Euro Info Centre in your area, which can help you to find the most appropriate type of funding.

You can also contact the Commission at the following address:

European Commission
Enterprise Directorate-General
Directorate B: Promotion of entrepreneurship and SMEs
Rue de la Loi, 200
B-1049 Brussels

Further information is available on the following Internet sites:



top 2 What is the European Parliament doing for human rights?

The European Parliament receives regular reports on the human rights situation in the EU Member States and the rest of the world. In accordance with Article 177 of the EC Treaty, it advocates the inclusion of the human rights clause in all cooperation aid agreements, such as the Convention between the European Union and 77 African, Caribbean and Pacific states (the ACP States). Under this 'democracy clause', aid to countries guilty of serious and persistent breaches of human rights may be suspended.

Furthermore, in 1998 the European Parliament established the Sakharov Prize, awarded each year to honour individuals or organisations that have made an outstanding contribution to upholding human rights.

The fundamental rights of European Union citizens are also protected by two instruments, namely:



top 3 Does the European Parliament help the third world?

The European Parliament plays an active role in development policy aimed at third-world countries. All the funds that the EU allocates to this policy are managed by the European Commission.

You can therefore contact the Commission at

European Commission
External Relations Directorate-General
Rue de la Loi, 200
B-1049 Brussels,

or the Humanitarian Aid Office, ECHO.

For further information, go to the European Union's development policy web site.



top 4 Problems with the national judicial systems

By virtue of the principle of the separation of judicial and legislative powers, the European Parliament cannot intervene in matters relating to national judicial systems. The courts are independent and their rulings, once they have become final and binding, are not subject to appeal.

However, should you consider that your fundamental rights are being infringed (for instance, pursuant to a provision of national law), you can appeal to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, which comes under the Council of Europe. The court is responsible for enforcing the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Matters may, however, only be brought before the court once all the means of redress available at national level have been exhausted.



top 5 Jobs/Recruitment

Recruitment to permanent posts within the European institutions is based on an open competitions procedure. However, temporary auxiliary posts, with fixed-term contracts, are also available. Recruitment to such posts is based on a different procedure.

If you are interested in an auxiliary post within the European Parliament, send your CV and a covering letter to:

European Parliament
Auxiliary Staff Service
Plateau de Kirchberg
B.P. 1601
L-2929 Luxembourg

Fuller information on recruitment procedures and the various career opportunities available within the EU institutions is available on the institutions' web sites.

All job vacancies are advertised in the C Series of the Official Journal, available from European Documentation Centres (EDCs), and in leading national newspapers.

The addresses of the EDCs in Europe are available on the Internet.



top 6 Traineeships

Traineeships are available within the European institutions.

The European Community also provides funding in support of innovative cross-border initiatives aimed at promoting the knowledge, abilities and skills which people need to achieve success in their working lives.

Please note, however, that while the European Parliament adopts the European Community's education budget, it is the Directorate-General for Education and Culture at the European Commission (200, rue de la Loi, B-1049 Brussels) which actually manages the funds available. These monies are used to fund European cooperation in all education-related areas and help promote a wide range of partnerships and exchange programmes. In particular, grants are made available to people wishing to study, teach, undergo training or acquire work experience abroad.