The agencies differ from the institutions and other bodies of the European Union in that they have not been established by the EU Treaties, but by specific legal acts. Their designations vary: Centre, Foundation, Office, Authority, etc.
There are currently 19 Community agencies which have specific technical, scientific or administrative tasks under the first pillar of the EU Treaty. Three agencies operate under the second pillar and three under the third pillar.
Agencies of the first pillar: Community agencies
Agencies of the second pillar: Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)
Agencies of the third pillar: Police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters
European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training
http://www.cedefop.eu.int
The European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training based in Thessaloniki, Greece, was set up in 1975. It is the European Union's reference centre for vocational education and training and supports vocational training professionals in the development and improvement of vocational training measures throughout Europe.
European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions
http://www.eurofound.eu.int
The European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions based in Dublin, Ireland, was set up in 1975. It analyzes living and working conditions and issues guidelines and recommendations for social policy decision-makers.
European Environment Agency
http://www.eea.eu.int/
The European Environment Agency based in Copenhagen, Denmark, began work in 1994. Its task is to provide information on the state of Europe's environment. It is also open to non-EU countries with similar aims.
The European Training Foundation
http://www.etf.eu.int
The European Training Foundation based in Turin, Italy, was set up in 1990. It supports vocational training reform in the partner countries and translates EU policy into practical training and labour market instruments for non-EU countries.
The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction
http://www.emcdda.eu.int/
The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction based in Lisbon, Portugal, began work in 1995. Its task is to collect and disseminate "objective, reliable and comparable information" on drugs and drug addiction in Europe.
European Medicines Agency
http://www.emea.eu.int
The European Medicines Agency based in London, UK, was set up in 1993. Its main responsibility is the protection of human and animal health; it endeavours to ensure optimum evaluation and supervision of medicines in Europe.
Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs)
http://oami.eu.int
The Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market based in Alicante, Spain, was set up in 1993. It administers Community trade marks and designs, which guarantee their owners uniform legal protection applicable in all Member States of the European Union.
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work
http://agency.osha.eu.int/
The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work based in Bilbao, Spain, was set up in 1994. It acts as a catalyst for developing, collecting, analyzing and disseminating information that is intended to make workplaces in Europe safer, healthier and more productive.
Community Plant Variety Office
http://www.cpvo.eu.int
The Community Plant Variety Office based in Angers, France, began work in 1995. It grants industrial property rights for plant varieties that apply throughout the Community.
Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union
http://www.cdt.eu.int
The Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union based in Luxembourg was set up in 1994. It meets the translation needs of the decentralized Community agencies.
European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia
http://www.eumc.eu.int
The European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia based in Vienna, Austria, began work in 1998. Its main task is to provide information on racism, xenophobia, islamophobia and anti-semitism at the European level, to analyze their causes and to formulate counter-strategies.
European Agency for Reconstruction
http://www.ear.eu.int
The European Agency for Reconstruction based in Thessaloniki, Greece, was set up in 2000. It is responsible for managing the main EU assistance programmes in Serbia and Montenegro (Republic of Serbia, Republic of Montenegro, UN-administered Kosovo) and in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
European Food Safety Authority
http://www.efsa.eu.int/
The European Food Safety Authority based in Parma, Italy, began work in 2002. It provides independent scientific advice and clear communication on existing and emerging risks in the field of food and feed safety.
European Maritime Safety Agency
http://www.emsa.eu.int/
The European Maritime Safety Agency based in Lisbon, Portugal, began work in 2003. It provides technical and scientific advice to the Commission in the field of maritime safety and prevention of pollution by ships and provides support in developing new legislation.
European Aviation Safety Agency
http://www.easa.eu.int
The European Aviation Safety Agency based in Cologne, Germany, was established in 2002. Its task is to create uniform safety standards for the safety of aviation.
European Network and Information Security Agency
http://www.enisa.eu.int/
The European Network and Information Security Agency is based in Heraklion, Greece, and was set up in 2004. Its task is to support and advise the Commission and Member States in matters of information security.
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
http://www.ecdc.eu.int
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control based in Solna, Sweden, was set up in 2004. Its task is to coordinate action to monitor and combat epidemics at European level.
European Railway Agency
http://www.era.eu.int/Default.aspx
The task of the European Railway Agency established in 2004 is to reinforce railway safety and interoperability throughout Europe. It has two offices in France: operational headquarters in Valenciennes and an international conference and meeting centre in Lille.
European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union
http://europa.eu.int/scadplus/leg/en/lvb/l33216.htm
The European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union (FRONTEX Agency) based in Warsaw, Poland, was set up in 2004. Its task is to coordinate the Member States' operational management ensuring the security of the Union's external borders. To this end, it provides assistance in training border guards, conducts risk analyses, monitors the relevant research and, if necessary, assists Member States in circumstances requiring increased technical and operational assistance at external borders.
European Fundamental Rights Agency
The EU plans to turn the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia into an agency and extending its remit to collecting and analyzing data on fundamental rights.
More information:
http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/fsj/rights/fsj_rights_agency_en.htm
Community Fisheries Control Agency
More information:´
http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/cfp/control_enforcement/control_agency_en.htm
The EU intends to install a global satellite navigation system (GNSS) alongside the existing GPS system in order to adequately respond to Europe's strategic and transport-related demands.
More information:
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/energy_transport/galileo/index_en.htm
European Chemicals Agency
More information:
http://ec.europa.eu/echa
More information:
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/266&format=HTML&aged=0&language=DE&guiLanguage=de
European Union Institute for Security Studies
www.iss-eu.org/
The European Union Institute for Security Studies based in Paris, France, was set up in 2002. Its aim is to promote the EU's security interests. It contributes to the CFSP through research and debate on security and defence issues, forward-looking analysis for the Council and High Representative of the EU, and the development of a transatlantic dialogue on all security issues with the EU, the United States and Canada.
European Union Satellite Centre
www.eusc.org/
The European Union Satellite Centre based in Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain, was set up in 2002. The Centre analyzes information from satellite imagery in support of Union decision-making in the field of the CFSP. It thereby strengthens both the CFSP and the European Security and Defence Policy, particularly with regard to crisis monitoring and conflict prevention. The Centre also conducts research and development projects.
European Defence Agency
http://www.eda.eu.int/index.htm
The European Defence Agency based in Brussels, Belgium, was set up in 2004. Its task is to improve defence and crisis-management capabilities under the European Security and Defence Policy.
European Police Office
www.europol.eu.int/
Europol, the European Police Office, based in The Hague, Netherlands, was set up in 1992. Its task is to collect, store, compare, analyze, evaluate and exchange data on criminal matters. Europol also has the task of facilitating effective, close cooperation between the Member States in preventing and combating international organized crime.
European Union's Judicial Cooperation Unit
www.eurojust.eu.int/
Eurojust, the European Union's Judicial Cooperation Unit, based in The Hague, Netherlands, was set up in 2002. It assists the competent authorities within Member States especially with the investigation and prosecution of serious cross-border and organized crime. Particular emphasis is placed on improving the competent authorities' coordination of cooperation and fostering cooperation in criminal justice throughout Europe.
European Police College
www.cepol.net
The European Police College based in Bramshill, UK, was set up in 2000. It organizes training for police officers to provide information on different police systems and cross-border police work. Its aim is to support the national police forces, particularly in the fight against cross-border crime. From 2006 onwards Cepol is an EU agency having separate legal personality.
