European Environment Agency launches revamped website After months of preparation the European Environment Agency (EEA) has recently launched its revamped website at: http://www.eea.eu.int/ The EEA hopes this website will become Europe's main gateway to electronic information about the environment. But it is quick to point out ... After months of preparation the European Environment Agency (EEA) has recently launched its revamped website at: http://www.eea.eu.int/ The EEA hopes this website will become Europe's main gateway to electronic information about the environment. But it is quick to point out that the changes are far from cosmetic. The main aim of redesigning the site has been to make the information stored there easier to search and more accessible. The bulk of the information available on the site is made up of electronic versions of all EEA publications, including the Agency's main environmental assessment reports. However, EEA Director, Mr Domingo Jiminez-Beltran wants to introduce new, more dynamic services: 'We also aim at increasing the transparency of the reporting process by providing overviews of the data underpinning our analysis, and making these data accessible. This is done partly through interactive tools where the user can order graphs and tables...furthermore we include an extensive number of links to relevant information from other reliable sources'. The revamped website includes a plethora of information gathered from the EEA's 18 member countries through the European Environment Information and Observation Network (EIONET). This means that the website provides access to information on key environmental areas such as air quality, coastal areas and waste, gathered from more than 500 national organisations. The EEA is keen to gain feedback from visitors and users of the redeveloped website, which should be sent to e-mail: webmaster@eea.eu.int. 'Together with my colleagues I hope you will visit and make use of our website, and help us realise our ambition of being Europe's reference centre - or, if you like, the main 'portal' - for environmental information. I am confident that the Agency now has an excellent basis from which to face its main challenge - namely to provide quality information to help improve Europe's environment', said Mr Jiminez-Beltran.
