Dear Christine
I appreciate the issues you mention about space for the paper copies
of COM Documents and the access procedures to information received
electronically.
COM Documents and the C and L series of the Official Journal are
still the series that I would argue we should have the choice as a
formal European information relay to receive in paper formats.
In the context of COM Documents and EUR-LEX in particular: at the
moment proposals for legislation (which form only one type of COM
Document) appear in EUR-LEX only while the proposal goes through the
decision making process: once adopted the text of the proposal is
taken out of EUR-LEX (the logic being that the adopted text is then
placed in the adopted legislation part of EUR-LEX). Thus, COM
Documents which comprise proposals for legislation would not always
be available in EUR-LEX.
In terms of other types of COM Documents (Communications, Reports,
White and Green Papers, for example) the most recent rationalisation
of EUR-LEX means they appear in the new section 'Documents of public
interest'. I have been informed recently that the present plan is to
leave them in this section for three years only (although this might
be open to further negotiation).
Thus, it is difficult to see, at present, EUR-LEX as an adequate
alternative to a paper collection of COM Documents for an EDC with
its archival role.
There is CELEX, of course, but I am not convinced that CELEX is the
answer either for an EDC fulfilling its role of allowing efficient
unhindered access to European legislative information to all.
Best wishes
Ian
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Ian Thomson Tel: 44-(0)29-2087-4262
European Documentation Centre Fax: 44-(0)29-2022-9740
Cardiff University E-Mail: [log in to unmask]
PO Box 430
Cardiff CF10 3XT
United Kingdom
Manager, European Documentation Centre, Cardiff University
Information Consultant, Wales Euro Info Centre (WEIC)
Editor, European Access / European Access Plus
[ http://www.europeanaccess.co.uk ]
Executive Editor: Know Europe
[ http://www.knoweurope.net ]
President, European Information Association
Creator of `Europe on the Internet':
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