The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) is a European Union agency charged with reducing the risk of maritime accidents, marine pollution from ships and the loss of human lives at sea by helping to enforce the pertinent EU legislation. It is headquartered in Lisbon. EMSA has a staff of just under 200 and operates a small network (at the end of 2009, 16 vessels) of stand-by oil recovery vessels contracted from the commercial sector, designed to provide top-up capacity to Member States' own response resources.

Mission

EMSA has the following mission:

The European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) was established in consequence of the reforms to the structure of supervision of the financial sector in the European Union. The reform was initiated by the European Commission, following the recommendations of a Committee of Wise Men, chaired by Mr. de Larosière, and supported by the European Council and Parliament.

The European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) is a Vilnius-based agency of the European Union inaugurated in 2007. EIGE supports the EU institutions and the Member States in promoting equality between women and men and combating sex discrimination. The Institute gathers, analyses and disseminates reliable and comparable research data and information needed by policy-makers. It has a documentation centre and a library which is open to the public.

Vision and Mission

European Global Navigation Satellite Systems Agency (GSA’s) mission is to support European Union objectives and achieve the highest return on European GNSS investment, in terms of benefits to users and economic growth and competitiveness, by:

The European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound) focuses on managing research, gathering information, and communicating its findings. It is headquartered in Loughlinstontown, County Dublin, Ireland.

The role of EUROFOUND is to provide information, advice and expertise – on living and working conditions, industrial relations and managing change in Europe – for key actors in the field of EU social policy on the basis of comparative information, research and analysis.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) provides independent scientific advice and communicates on existing and emerging risks associated with the food chain. It is based in Parma, Italy.

The European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) co-ordinates the national operational activities in the area of fisheries, and assists the Member States in their application of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The agency is based in Vigo, Spain.

The Agency's mission is to promote the highest common standards for control, inspection and surveillance under the Common Fisheries Policy.

The European Environment Agency (EEA) provides independent information on the environment, thereby helping those involved in developing, adopting, implementing and evaluating environmental policy, as well as informing the general public.

EEA's mandate is:

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) manages the technical, scientific and administrative aspects of the implementation of the European Union regulation called Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH). ECHA is the driving force among regulatory authorities in implementing the EU's chemicals legislation. ECHA helps companies to comply with the legislation, advances the safe use of chemicals, provides information on chemicals and addresses chemicals of concern. It is located in Helsinki, Finland.

CEDEFOP is one of EU's decentralised agencies. Founded in 1975 and based in Greece since 1995, CEDEFOP supports development of European vocational education and training (VET). CEDEFOP supports development of European vocational education and training (VET) policies and contributes to their implementation. The agency is helping the European Commission, EU Member States and the social partners to develop the right European VET policies.

Main Tasks

1. Analysing Policy