In short, here is an overview of what's new plus a few reminders.

What happens next?

Our new 'What happens next' page is up and running on our UK website.  It follows up legislation after it has left the European Parliament and guides you to the next stage, whether this be within the EU structures or for implementation in the UK.  (n.b. we follow up only issues where the UK Office has issued a press release in the last 3 years).

http://www.europarl.org.uk/next

What happens soon?

We are introducing a new "What happens soon" page, highlighting a dozen or so major pieces of legislation which will be dealt with by the European Parliament in the next 6 months.  The first example of this table is at the foot of this EP News edition.  We intend to publish an update in EP News at least twice a month, and will update the table online as and when we receive new information. Please note that forward planning timings such as these are always subject to change, even at the last minute, so the table is intended as a guide only.

http://www.europarl.org.uk/soon

What's already happened?

• Don't forget, if you have 3 minutes to spare and you want to listen to a summary of what happened at the last plenary session of Parliament you can always hit the link on the EP Live section of the Parliament's central website.  The overview of the July session is there now.
  
• Also on audio, if you have half an hour to spare each month and want an entertaining summary of the session with clips from the debates and interviews, you can always link up to this podcast or webstreamed overview:- http://www.epaudiobook.com/
  
• Our central website includes press releases on all the major debates of the week in plenary sessions and many of the top discussions in committee. 
  Go to http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/tous_les_infopress/default/default_en.htm for the latest.
  
• If you want to delve into the European Parliament's past acitivities, take a look at our Highlights of 1999-2004, which gives an overview of EP activities in each policy field - a readable document which could just help with background to current legislation going through Parliament.
  Go to http://www.europarl.europa.eu/highlights/en/default.htm

What do our MEPs do exactly?

Did you realise that all the speeches and questions tabled by each individual MEP are available in a few clicks on our central website?  You can find any member by going to the country they represent and, in the case of UK Members, the region, and then you'll see links to their speeches, questions, resolutions and reports.  http://www.europarl.europa.eu/members/public/geoSearch/zoneList.do?country=GB&language=EN

What do people say about us?

Our UK Office website now includes a page of frequently made comments about the European Parliament and our response to those comments.  Most of these come from the press or letters to the press.  They cover a whole range of issues such as costs of Parliament, procedures for speaking time, the relative powers of Parliament, Commission and Council.  Even the Parliament's ushers get a mention!  See "The Things they say about us".

http://www.europarl.org.uk/theysay

How does it look?

We had mixed comments on the layout and presentation of EP News.  Some like its simplicity and no-frills information; others want more variety of format to make it a more attractive read.  We are determined to maintain the simple, information-only approach (particularly to assist those who are partially sighted and use a screen reader). 

Another issue which provoked lively reaction from subscribers was the format in which EP News is emailed. The debate pitted supporters of html attachments against promoters of embedded html. Last week's EP News No 268 was "embedded" -with unhappy consequences for some of our subscribers, who lost navigational aids across the page (so-called "anchors"). Web-based email accounts (eg. hotmail, lycos) appear most likely to re-interpret the embedded html code, with unpredictable results.

For this issue, we are returning to using an html attachment, because it has proved more reliable, albeit less glamorous. We also continue to publish a reduced text-only alternative, with a link back to the full version, online in the EP News library. We will keep the issue under review for a solution compatible with our limited equipment and the various email clients used by our (truly global !) readership.

In the autumn we will be introducing some changes to font and colours which should go some way towards satisfying those who find one font monotonous.

Next EP News?

• The next substantive EP News will be sent out on Friday 25 August prior to the reopening of Parliament on 28 August.
  
• We will keep an eye on things over the summer and only send out extra editions if we have new information to send you.

Have a good summer.