Not sure whether anyone's posted the official UEFA line on eligibility and participation in the Europa League. Hopefully this won't concern us ;o)
Taken from the Europa League regulations 2009/10:
FA Cup runner-up
2.04 If the winner of the domestic cup qualifies for the UEFA Champions League,
the domestic cup runner-up qualifies for the UEFA Europa League at the
stage initially reserved for the lowest ranking top domestic league
representative (or the winner of another official domestic competition
specified in paragraph 2.03). Should both the winner and the runner-up of the
domestic cup qualify for the UEFA Champions League, the association concerned
may enter for the UEFA Europa League the club which finishes
the top domestic league immediately below the other club or clubs which
qualify for the UEFA Europa League. In both cases, the access stage initially
reserved for the domestic cup winner is reserved for the club which finishes
the domestic league in the highest position out of all the clubs which qualify
for the UEFA Europa League from the association concerned (see Annex Ia).
Each representative of the domestic league will then enter the competition at
the stage initially reserved for the domestic league representative ranked
immediately above it.
Europa League winners (possibly Liverpool or Fulham)
2.06 Unless the UEFA Cup titleholder qualifies for the UEFA Champions League
through its domestic championship, it is guaranteed a place in the group
stage of the UEFA Europa League. If the titleholder does qualify for the
UEFA Europa League through its domestic competitions, the number of
places to which its national association is entitled in the UEFA Europa
League does not change. If the UEFA Cup titleholder does not qualify for
either the UEFA Champions League or UEFA Europa League through its
domestic competitions, its participation in the UEFA Europa League is not at
the expense of the contingent of its association.
Eligibility to participate (Portsmouth)
2.07 To be eligible to participate in the competition, a club must fulfil the following criteria:
a) it must have qualified for the competition on sporting merit;
b) it must fill in the official entry documents (i.e. all documents containing all
the information deemed necessary by the UEFA administration for
ascertaining compliance with the admission criteria), which must reach
the UEFA administration by 2 June 2009 (for administrative purposes, the
UEFA administration may request the entry documents at an earlier date
to be communicated by circular letter; in such a case, the national association
shall confirm to the UEFA administration in writing by 2
June 2009 that the club fulfils all admission criteria set out in paragraph
2.07);
c) it must have obtained a licence issued by the competent national body in
accordance with the UEFA Club Licensing Regulations (2008 edition) and
be included in the list of licensing decisions to be submitted by this body
to the UEFA administration by the given deadline;
d) it must agree to comply with the rules aimed at ensuring the integrity of
the competition as defined in Article 3;
e) it must confirm in writing that the club itself, as well as its players and
officials, agree to respect the statutes, regulations, directives and
decisions of UEFA;
f) it must confirm in writing that the club itself, as well as its players and
officials, agree to recognise the jurisdiction of the Court of Arbitration for
Sport (CAS) in Lausanne as defined in the relevant provisions of the
UEFA Statutes and agree that any proceedings before the CAS
concerning admission to or exclusion from the competition will be held in
an expedited manner in accordance with the Code of Sports-related
Arbitration of the CAS and with the directions issued by the CAS;
g) it must not have been directly and/or indirectly involved, since the entry
into force of Article 50(3) of the UEFA Statutes (edition 2007), i.e. 27 April
2007, in any activity aimed at arranging or influencing the outcome of a
match at national or international level and must confirm this to the UEFA
administration in writing.
Taken from the Europa League regulations 2009/10:
FA Cup runner-up
2.04 If the winner of the domestic cup qualifies for the UEFA Champions League,
the domestic cup runner-up qualifies for the UEFA Europa League at the
stage initially reserved for the lowest ranking top domestic league
representative (or the winner of another official domestic competition
specified in paragraph 2.03). Should both the winner and the runner-up of the
domestic cup qualify for the UEFA Champions League, the association concerned
may enter for the UEFA Europa League the club which finishes
the top domestic league immediately below the other club or clubs which
qualify for the UEFA Europa League. In both cases, the access stage initially
reserved for the domestic cup winner is reserved for the club which finishes
the domestic league in the highest position out of all the clubs which qualify
for the UEFA Europa League from the association concerned (see Annex Ia).
Each representative of the domestic league will then enter the competition at
the stage initially reserved for the domestic league representative ranked
immediately above it.
Europa League winners (possibly Liverpool or Fulham)
2.06 Unless the UEFA Cup titleholder qualifies for the UEFA Champions League
through its domestic championship, it is guaranteed a place in the group
stage of the UEFA Europa League. If the titleholder does qualify for the
UEFA Europa League through its domestic competitions, the number of
places to which its national association is entitled in the UEFA Europa
League does not change. If the UEFA Cup titleholder does not qualify for
either the UEFA Champions League or UEFA Europa League through its
domestic competitions, its participation in the UEFA Europa League is not at
the expense of the contingent of its association.
Eligibility to participate (Portsmouth)
2.07 To be eligible to participate in the competition, a club must fulfil the following criteria:
a) it must have qualified for the competition on sporting merit;
b) it must fill in the official entry documents (i.e. all documents containing all
the information deemed necessary by the UEFA administration for
ascertaining compliance with the admission criteria), which must reach
the UEFA administration by 2 June 2009 (for administrative purposes, the
UEFA administration may request the entry documents at an earlier date
to be communicated by circular letter; in such a case, the national association
shall confirm to the UEFA administration in writing by 2
June 2009 that the club fulfils all admission criteria set out in paragraph
2.07);
c) it must have obtained a licence issued by the competent national body in
accordance with the UEFA Club Licensing Regulations (2008 edition) and
be included in the list of licensing decisions to be submitted by this body
to the UEFA administration by the given deadline;
d) it must agree to comply with the rules aimed at ensuring the integrity of
the competition as defined in Article 3;
e) it must confirm in writing that the club itself, as well as its players and
officials, agree to respect the statutes, regulations, directives and
decisions of UEFA;
f) it must confirm in writing that the club itself, as well as its players and
officials, agree to recognise the jurisdiction of the Court of Arbitration for
Sport (CAS) in Lausanne as defined in the relevant provisions of the
UEFA Statutes and agree that any proceedings before the CAS
concerning admission to or exclusion from the competition will be held in
an expedited manner in accordance with the Code of Sports-related
Arbitration of the CAS and with the directions issued by the CAS;
g) it must not have been directly and/or indirectly involved, since the entry
into force of Article 50(3) of the UEFA Statutes (edition 2007), i.e. 27 April
2007, in any activity aimed at arranging or influencing the outcome of a
match at national or international level and must confirm this to the UEFA
administration in writing.