EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT INFORMATION OFFICES: A DIRECT LINK TO CITIZENS

The European Parliament maintains an Information office in every Member State and a Liaison office in the United States: Athens, Barcelona, Berlin, Bratislava, Brussels,  Bucarest, Budapest,  Copenhague, Dublin, Edinburgh, Helsinki, Lisbon,  Ljubljana,  London, Luxembourg, Madrid,  Marseille, Milan, Munich, Nicosia, Paris, Prague, Riga, Rome, Sofia, Stockholm, Strasbourg, Tallinn, The Hague, Valetta, Vienna, Vilnius,  Warsaw, Wroclaw, Washington DC, Zagreb.

Their role is to raise awareness of the European Parliament and the European Union and to encourage people to vote in European parliamentary elections. What does that mean in practice?

The Information Offices       

• Provide information on the European Parliament’s role and powers, on the national MEPs and their activities and on issues currently being considered by the Parliament which are of significance for the Member State and for Europe as a whole;
• Answer questions from the public about the European Parliament and EU policies; provide citizens with information and materials and organise presentations and debates on European topics;
• Provide advice on EU citizens' rights;
• Provide information on visiting the European Parliament in Strasbourg or Brussels;
• Provide advice on submitting a petition to the European Parliament or making a complaint to the European Ombudsman;
• Provide assistance in accessing European Parliament reports, resolutions or other documents;
• Provide assistance with provision of speakers for events/presentations;
• Organise press briefings and keep the media informed of news from the Parliament and provide information for those journalists wishing to attend plenary sessions.  On a regular basis, journalists are invited to report about plenary session "on the spot", either in Strasbourg, where the monthly plenary sessions of Parliament take place or in Brussels. The Briefings give an advance overview of the agenda for each months plenary session and are available to the media and other interested organisations;
• Work closely with teachers and academic organisations and provide educational resources;
• Provide information on applying for a traineeship or on recruitment procedures at the EU institutions;
• Develop links with professional groups, companies, non-governmental organisations and anyone else who has an interest in European affairs and the role of the European Parliament;
• Supply leaflets, maps, wallcharts and other publications on the European Parliament.