European Parliamentary Research Service
On the 1st of November 2013, a new directorate-general named the European Parliamentary Research Service officially opened its doors within the European Parliament. This entity emerged from a deliberate decision to merge two previously separate administrative units into a single research body. The former Secretary-General Klaus Welle championed this initiative as part of a broader effort to rationalize the Parliament's permanent administration. Before this date, the Library operated under DG Presidency while analytical services resided in DG Internal Policies. These departments handled unrelated matters like security services and legal linguists alongside their core functions. A Joint Working Group had spent months analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of existing support structures for Members of the European Parliament. Their report recommended creating an independent scientific advice mechanism to enhance parliamentary scrutiny over executive bodies. The merger brought together about 200 staff members in a budget-neutral arrangement. Anthony Teasdale became the first Director-General to lead this unified organization. The goal was to provide objective analysis on policy issues relating to the European Union without external influence.
Any Member of the European Parliament can contact the Members' Hotline at any time to request specific information or research. This service acts as a single point of access for all EPRS products and tailored analyses. Policy analysts cover six distinct areas including economic policies, structural policies, citizens' policies, budgetary policies, digital policies, and external policies. Two specialist teams focus specifically on monitoring EU climate action goals and the Next Generation EU recovery fund. Researchers produce short 'at a glance' notes alongside detailed briefings and comprehensive studies on major EU legislation. When an MEP submits a request, analysts prepare personalized material designed to meet that specific need. Proactive publications also emerge from the team's own initiative rather than waiting for individual requests. These documents help Members scrutinize and oversee the European Commission during successive stages of the EU policy cycle. The service ensures that every Member has access to authoritative research on policy issues affecting their constituency. Legislative Train briefings analyze substantial proposals for EU legislation at every stage of the procedure. Each briefing includes the purpose, content, legal aspects, and potential changes proposed by new laws.
Citizens with questions about the European Parliament can now contact the AskEP service directly through official channels. This program answers public enquiries regarding the Parliament and its views on various EU issues. An interactive multilingual website called What Europe Does For Me presents hundreds of one-page notes. Users find specific information about how the EU impacts their region or professional lives. The platform highlights examples of how European decisions affect favorite pastimes and daily activities. In 2019, EPRS received the European Ombudsman Award for Good Administration in the category of Excellence in communications. This recognition validated the effectiveness of their outreach strategy in making complex policies accessible to ordinary people. The Directorate for Library and Knowledge Services also answers citizens' enquiries about both the Parliament and the EU generally. Physical reading rooms exist in Brussels and Strasbourg to house extensive collections of books and journals. Online access to subscription-based publications is available throughout the entire Parliament institution. These initiatives ensure that parliamentary information reaches beyond the walls of the legislative chamber.
The organization operates under four main directorates supported by five horizontal units managing operations. Anders Rasmussen currently serves as the Director-General overseeing all strategic direction and internal coordination. The Strategy and Innovation Unit assists the Director-General in overseeing horizontal issues within the department. It coordinates services for Members and staff while delivering a coherent communication strategy internally and externally. The Publications Management and Editorial Unit ensures consistently high standards in content and form across all outputs. Statistical advice and graphics development fall under this unit's responsibility alongside publication process coordination. The Linking the Levels Unit assists the Director General with specific administrative tasks. Strategic Foresight and Capabilities Unit generates analytical work on EU risks, vulnerabilities, capabilities, opportunities, and gaps. The European Parliament History Service publishes historical studies drawing from archives of both institutions. Directorate A provides independent analysis through six policy units covering diverse sectors like economy and environment. Directorate B acts as an information center on ex-ante and ex-post evaluations carried out by various bodies. Directorate C manages physical and digital collections including newspapers, databases, and newswires. Directorate D assures optimal resourcing of priorities especially during times of increasing resource scarcity.
A panel of 27 Members of the European Parliament devotes their time to science and technology assessment issues. The vice-president responsible for STOA chairs this group alongside members from multiple committees. Six representatives come from the Committee on Industry Research and Energy while three each join from Environment Public Health and Food Safety committees. Additional members arrive from Internal Market Consumer Protection Employment Social Affairs Transport Tourism Agriculture Rural Development Civil Liberties Justice Home Affairs Legal Affairs Culture Education Regional Development International Trade committees. The Scientific Foresight Unit carries out expert independent assessments of the impact of new technologies. These evaluations identify long-term strategic policy options useful for parliamentary committees in their decision-making role. External experts partner with the panel to ensure comprehensive coverage of emerging technological trends. The unit operates within Directorate B alongside other evaluation functions. Their work helps parliamentarians understand complex scientific developments before they become law or regulation. This process strengthens the practical capacity for scrutiny over executive actions at successive stages of the legislative cycle. Strategic foresight capabilities allow the institution to anticipate future challenges rather than merely reacting to current events.
The Library Reading Rooms in Brussels and Strasbourg house extensive physical collections acquired and managed by the department. These spaces provide access to books journals newspapers newswires databases and other information sources for Members and staff. Online subscription-based publications are available throughout the entire Parliament institution to support research needs. Five units organize the Directorate for Library and Knowledge Services including Comparative Law Library and European Parliament History Service. The collection originated within DG Presidency before becoming part of the newly formed EPRS structure. Digital transformation efforts have expanded access beyond physical reading rooms to include remote database usage. Citizens can now submit enquiries about both the Parliament and the EU generally through dedicated channels. Historical studies published by the service draw from archives of both the European Parliament and the European Union. The evolution from a simple library function to a full knowledge services directorate reflects changing demands for information. Modern systems integrate traditional archival methods with cutting-edge digital retrieval tools. This transition ensures that historical context remains accessible alongside contemporary policy analysis for all users.
Continue Browsing
Common questions
When did the European Parliamentary Research Service officially open?
The European Parliamentary Research Service officially opened on the 1st of November 2013. This new directorate-general emerged from a deliberate decision to merge two previously separate administrative units into a single research body.
Who is the current Director-General of the European Parliamentary Research Service?
Anders Rasmussen currently serves as the Director-General overseeing all strategic direction and internal coordination within the European Parliamentary Research Service. Anthony Teasdale became the first Director-General to lead this unified organization when it was established in 2013.
What are the six policy areas covered by analysts at the European Parliamentary Research Service?
Policy analysts at the European Parliamentary Research Service cover six distinct areas including economic policies, structural policies, citizens' policies, budgetary policies, digital policies, and external policies. Two specialist teams focus specifically on monitoring EU climate action goals and the Next Generation EU recovery fund.
How many staff members work for the European Parliamentary Research Service after the merger?
The merger brought together about 200 staff members in a budget-neutral arrangement to form the European Parliamentary Research Service. These employees operate under four main directorates supported by five horizontal units managing operations.
Which award did the European Parliamentary Research Service receive in 2019?
In 2019, EPRS received the European Ombudsman Award for Good Administration in the category of Excellence in communications. This recognition validated the effectiveness of their outreach strategy in making complex policies accessible to ordinary people.