European Documentation Centre (EDC)

Our services at a glance

Wide range of EU literature, media and resources.
Support and advice in finding detailed information on European policies and institutions, European law, integration, funding and grants.
Help with enquiries ranging from straightforward document searches to in-depth research on European topics, either online or print.
Compilation of documents and publications of the EU.
Contact details on relevant organisations.

Picture: Hessische Staatskanzlei | Source

Europe Day and European Weeks
From 30 April up to 31 May 2025.

The European Union celebrates its Europe Day every year on 9 May.
For many years, the so-called European Weeks have been held around this day in Germany to inform citizens about Europe and to encourage constructive debates on topics related to European policy.
Europe Day 2025 website of the European Parliament

Events and actions around the European Weeks, where you can participate, inform yourself and contribute your opinion:

Hesse
Hesse organise a wide range of activities relating to European politics and cultures.

Germany
Events in the different federal states

Europe
Activities around European Day in EU member states
Events and activities organised by the EU institutions for Europe Day

Have you already discovered our EDC information stands at the three ULB locations (Lichtwiese, Schloss and Stadtmitte)?

At these stands you will find lots of interesting information about the EU to take away with you.

The largest information stand is in the ULB Stadtmitte, in the passageway between the old main building and the canteen.

There you will also find an exhibition on the European Union, which we are organising in cooperation with the Europe Direct Darmstadt.
In the exhibition you can find out more about the principles and institutions of the EU and how you get involved.

Opening hours
Mon to Sun: 08:00 – 01:00

You are welcome to visit the EDZ information stands and the EU exhibition without registration and for free.

Background to Europe Day on 9 May:
Europe Day (9 May) celebrates peace and unity in Europe. The date marks the anniversary of the historical Schuman Declaration. At a speech in Paris in 1950, the French Foreign Minister, Robert Schuman set out his idea for a new form of political cooperation in Europe, a project to bring the people of Europe together and secure lasting peace and democracy. The “European Coal and Steel Community” based on his proposal was the fundament of today's European Union.

Equal Pay Day and the gender pay gap

Every year, Equal Pay Day draws attention to the fact that women around the world earn less than men. It highlights the percentage difference in the average gross earnings of women and men. This difference is also known as the gender pay gap.

According to Eurostat statistics on the gender pay gap, working women in the EU earn on average 12.7% less per hour than men. The European Parliament gives the definition and causes of the gender pay gap in the EU.

Equal pay for equal work for men and women is one of the European Union’s founding principles, enshrined in Article 157 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). The implementation and enforcement of this principle remain a challenge. Owing to a lack of pay transparency, pay discrimination often goes undetected, and victims face difficulties in making claims for redress.

The EU is tackling the problem of the gender pay gap with various measures. The aim is to promote the principle of equal pay through regulations on pay transparency and the monitoring of their implementation.

There are considerable differences in the gender pay gap between EU countries. Equal Pay Day is now established in 12 different EU countries. At national level, EU countries are also combating the gender pay gap.

International Women's Day

Every year since 1911, on 8 March, women around the world have brought gender equality to public attention on International Women's Day.

Gender equality is also a fundamental principle of the European Union, but it is not yet a reality.

On International Women's Day on 8 March 2025, the European Commission is strengthening its commitment to gender equality with a new roadmap for women's rights.
The new roadmap builds on the successes of the European Commission's Gender Equality Strategy. The report on gender equality in the EU 2025, published on 7 March, provides a detailed overview of progress and highlights where more needs to be done.

The European Parliament is also fighting for gender equality, the protection of women's rights and the closing of the pay gap between women and men.

Efforts in the EU to promote women's rights, ensure equal pay and end violence against women can also be found at the European Council

Access to a wealth of data aligned with the main dimensions of the Gender Equality Strategy can be found at the Gender Equality Strategy Monitoring Portal.

To strengthen and promote gender equality across the EU, the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) was established in 2010.

On the EIGE website you will find information on gender equality, the Gender Equality Index 2024 and a gender statistics database.

EUROSTAT – the statistical office of the EU also provides gender statistics for the EU, a selection of indicators from areas such as education, the labour market, income and life expectancy, which are particularly important for measuring differences between women and men.

To gain a deeper understanding of the issues, the European Council Library has compiled a library guide with relevant resources on gender equality.
Browsing through the tabs you will find books and articles, EU publications, podcasts, videos and websites.

This year, the Language Resource Centre organized the European Day of Languages at TU Darmstadt for the first time.

Our European Documentation Centre (EDC) was there for you and provided information about European language policy.

Background “European Day of Languages”
On the initiative of the Council of Europe (not an EU institution), the European Day of Languages has been celebrated together with the EU Commission since 2001.
The aim is to encourage people of all ages to learn more languages in and out of school. The Council of Europe wants to promote multilingualism throughout Europe in the belief that linguistic diversity can contribute to a better understanding between cultures and is one of the central components of our continent's cultural heritage.

Are you a TU member and would like to improve your language skills or learn a new language?

The Language Centre at TU Darmstadt offers a wide range of language courses.

If you would like to go abroad, these centres at TU Darmstadt can support you:
Advisory on scholarships and funding for stays abroad – The International Relations Office provides advice on financing stays abroad during your studies.
Studying abroad – The International Relations Office provides advice on opportunities to study abroad in online consultation hours.
International Teacher Training – The Center for Teacher Training advises on opportunities for study abroad and internships abroad in the teaching profession.

Further information on European language policy

Language policy of the Council of Europe

Overview of EU language policy and the role of the European Parliament (EP).

Eurobarometer survey on Europeans and their languages, May 2024. This report provides information on citizens' language skills, language use and attitudes towards language learning in the European Union. It also allows us to see the evolution over time, as the survey results are compared with the previous language survey from 2012.

The European Union has 24 official languages. Languages take you further is a practical taste of each one of them that just might help you peek behind some of those doors.