EU Funding
EU NETWORKS
2. OVERSEEN BY OTHER SERVICES OF THE COMMISSION
Your Europe Advice (formally Citizens Signpost Service)
Europe made easy: Help and advice on
your life, work and travel in the EU. Your Europe Advice is an EU advice service
for the public, currently provided by the legal
experts from the European
Citizen Action Service (ECAS) operating under contract
with the European Commission. It consists of a team
of lawyers who cover all EU official
languages and are familiar both with EU law
and national laws in all EU countries.
CULTURAL CONTACT POINTS
Cultural contact points have been established in the Member States and in most of the other countries taking part in the programme. They are responsible for promoting the programme, facilitating the participation of as many cultural professionals as possible, ensuring an exchange of information with national cultural institutions, maintaining contact between the participants in the various Community programmes and a link with the other sources of information on the various Community programmes.
SOLVIT
SOLVIT is an on-line problem solving network in which EU Member States work together to solve without legal proceedings problems caused by the misapplication of Internal Market law by public authorities.
FIN-NET
FIN-NET is a network for settling cross-border financial disputes out of Court. In case of a financial dispute between the consumer and the financial service provider, the consumer can contact the out-of-court complaints body in his own country of residence. Overseen by the Internal Market Directorate-General of the
Commission.
The Network is made up of the national information centres of the States party to the European Cultural Convention or the UNESCO Europe Region. An ENIC is a body set up by the national authorities. While the size and specific competence of ENIC may vary, they will generally provide information on:
- the recognition of foreign diplomas, degrees and other qualifications;
- education systems in both foreign countries and the ENIC’s own country;
- opportunities for studying abroad, including information on loans and scholarships, as well as advice on practical questions related to mobility and equivalence.
EURES
EURopean Employment Services brings together the European Commission and the public employment services of the countries belonging to the European Economic Area and Switzerland. Other regional and national bodies concerned with employment issues are also included, such as trade unions, employers' organisations, as well as local and regional authorities. Overseen by the Employment and Social Affairs Directorate-General of the Commission.
European Consumer Centres
The European Consumer Centres Network (ECC-Net) is an EU-wide network co-sponsored by the European Commission and the Member States. It is made up of 29 centres, one in each of the 27 EU Member States and also in Iceland and Norway.
If you live in the EU, in Iceland or in Norway, and you have a complaint against a company in another European country, or if you want to know more about your rights as a consumer, contact your country's European Consumer Center:
You can feel as confident when shopping in another country as you do at home! If you want to know more about your rights as a consumer within the European Union, or if you need help, visit in person or contact your country's European Consumer Centre.
EURAXES
EURAXESS Services is a network of more than 200 centres located in 38
European countries. If you are a mobile researcher, EURAXESS Services
can assist you and your family in every step of your move, starting in
your home country and continuing until you have settled in a new one.
This free personalised service is here to remove red tape and make your
life easier. You will receive comprehensive, up-to-date information, as
well as customised assistance on all matters relating to your
professional and daily life. A team of well informed staff is at your
disposal across Europe. Find a EURAXESS Services Centre near you.
The Euroguidance network is a network of centres linking together the Careers Guidance systems in Europe.
Euroguidance promotes mobility, helping guidance counsellors and individuals to better understand the opportunities available to European citizens throughout Europe.
FIN-NET is a financial dispute resolution network of national out-of-court complaint schemes in the European Economic Area countries (the European Union Member States plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) that are responsible for handling disputes between consumers and financial services providers, i.e. banks, insurance companies, investment firms and others. This network was launched by the European Commission in 2001.
Within FIN-NET, the schemes cooperate to provide consumers with easy access to out-of-court complaint procedures in cross-border cases. If a consumer in one country has a dispute with a financial services provider from another country, FIN-NET members will put the consumer in touch with the relevant out-of court complaint scheme and provide the necessary information about it.
Business and Innovation Centres (BICs)
The European Community Business and Innovation Centres (EC BICs) are support
organisations for innovative small and mediumsized businesses (SMEs) and entrepreneurs. They are recognised by the European Commission through a quality certification scheme, which enables them to obtain the European “EC BIC” label. The BICs are grouped together within the European BIC Network (EBN). Overseen by the Reseach Directorate-General of the Commission.
Innovation Relay Centres (IRCs)
IRCs have been created in order to facilitate the transfer of innovative technologies to and
from European companies or research departments. The IRC network has become a leading European network for the promotion of technology partnerships and transfer mainly between small and medium-sized companies (SMEs). Overseen by the Reseach Directorate-General of the Commission.
European Business and Innovation Centre
EICs operate in partnership with local, regional and national organisations. These
organisations, which include chambers of commerce or banks, are selected according to the quality of their contact with businesses in their region.
The Enterprise Europe Network helps small business to make the most of the European marketplace. Working through local business organisations, we can help you:
Develop your business in new markets
Source or license new technologies
Access EU finance and EU funding
The Lifelong Learning Programme (LLP) provides opportunities for organisations, staff and learners involved in education and training across Europe to work together, learn from each others' expertise, and widen their experience of other cultures and languages.
The work undertaken through projects funded by the LLP is also helping to develop and shape the education and training landscape in the UK.
Funded by the European Commission, the LLP supports a wide range of education and training activities across Europe and provides opportunities for all stages of lifelong learning. In the UK thousands of projects are funded each year.
The LLP is made up of several programmes, each aimed at a specific target group:
- Schools - Comenius and eTwinning
- Higher Education - Erasmus
- Vocational Education and Training – Leonardo
- Adult Education (non vocational) – Grundtvig
- Learning professionals - Transversa
NATIONAL CONTACT POINTS FP7
The NCP network is the main provider of advice and individual assistance
in all Member States and Associated States. By using this service you
can easily find the contact details of the designated National Contact
Points for your country. Since NCPs are appointed for each of the
areas of FP7, when seeking support you should contact the NCP relevant
to your area of interest.
In every country (European Union and European Economic Area), a National Europass Centre coordinates all activities related to the Europass documents. It is the first point of contact for any person or organisation interested in using or learning more about Europass.
Main functions:
- coordinate the management of Europass documents;
- promote Europass and Europass documents;
- ensure that information and guidance centres are well informed about Europass and the Europass documents;
- ensure that all Europass documents are also available in paper versions;
- act as a national partner in the European network of National Europass Centres.
Youth in Action is the EU Programme for young people aged 15-28 (in some cases 13-30). It aims to inspire a sense of active citizenship, solidarity and tolerance among young Europeans and to involve them in shaping the Union's future.
Youth in Action is a programme for all! It promotes mobility within and beyond the EU borders, non-formal learning and intercultural dialogue, and encourages the inclusion of all young people, regardless of their educational, social and cultural background.
