 | A | | |
| Accession criteria (Copenhagen criteria) | |
| To be admitted to the EU, a country must fulfil the criteria laid down by the Copenhagen European Council: political stability, a functioning market economy, and adoption of the Community acquis (adherence to the various political, economic and monetary aims of the European Union).
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| Accession negotiations | |
| Once a country’s application to join the EU has been approved, accession negotiations can begin. These negotiations examine the applicants' capacity to fulfil the requirements of a Member State and to apply the Community acquis. The negotiations also look at the issue of the pre-accession aid the European Union may provide in order to help with the incorporation of the acquis.
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| Accession of a new state to the European Union | |
| The procedure whereby a state accedes to the European Union is as follows. After having consulted the European Commission and obtained the consent of the European Parliament, the Council of the EU decides unanimously in favour of opening negotiations. The conditions for accession, any transitional periods that may be required, and the necessary amendments to the treaties on which the EU is based are laid down in an agreement between the Member States and the state that has applied for accession. For the agreement to enter into effect, it must first be ratified by all states parties to the agreement in accordance with their own constitutional provisions.
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| Accession partnership | |
| The accession partnerships concluded between the Council of the EU and applicant countries each bring together in a single document the coordination of aid to the country concerned as well as setting priorities and determining the financial support to be given.
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| Acquis communautaire | |
| The acquis communautaire or Community acquis is the body of common rights and obligations that bind all the Member States together within the European Union. It comprises the content, principles and political objectives of the Treaties, the legislation adopted in application of the treaties and the case law of the Court of Justice, the declarations and resolutions adopted by the Union, measures relating to the common foreign and security policy, measures relating to justice and home affairs, and international agreements concluded by the Community and those concluded by the Member States between themselves in the field of the Union's activities.
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| Agenda 2000 | |
| Agenda 2000 is an action programme adopted by the Commission dealing with issues that the EU will face after enlargement and contains the Commission’s recommendations on enlargement, the reform of Community policies and the Union's future financial framework.
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| Agenda 2007 | |
| Negotiations are currently being conducted in the EU in the context of Agenda 2007, to produce a financial framework for the period 2007-2013.
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| Amendment | |
| An amendment is a proposal submitted by one or more members of the European Parliament to make changes to a piece of draft legislation.
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| Anthem | |
| In 1972, the Council of Europe adopted Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" (part of his Ninth Symphony), in an arrangement by Herbert Von Karajan, as its own anthem. In 1985 the “Ode to Joy” was adopted by EU heads of State and government as the official anthem of the European Union.
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| Assent procedure | |
| The assent procedure requires the Council to obtain Parliament's assent before certain important decisions are taken. The European Parliament may accept or reject a proposal but cannot amend it.
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| B | | |
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| C | | |
| Candidate countries (also known as applicant countries) | |
| Countries that have applied to join the EU and in respect of which the European Council has determined that they fulfil the political criteria for accession are known as candidate (or applicant) countries. Once this status has been granted, negotiations are opened with the country concerned.
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| Charter of Fundamental Rights | |
| The Charter of Fundamental Rights brings together all the fundamental rights that apply at EU level. The draft treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe proposes that the Charter be incorporated in full into the treaty, which would make it legally binding.
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| (EU) Citizenship | |
| Every natural person who is a national of one of the EU Member States is regarded as an EU citizen. This citizenship does not replace a person’s nationality but is supplementary to it.
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| Classification of expenditure | |
| This refers to the distinction made between Union expenditure for which the underlying principle and the amount are legally determined by the treaties, secondary legislation, conventions, international treaties or private contracts ("compulsory" expenditure or CE) and expenditure for which the budgetary authority is free to decide the amount as it sees fit ("non-compulsory" expenditure or NCE).
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| Codecision procedure | |
| The codecision procedure gives the European Parliament the power to adopt instruments (i.e. to make decisions) jointly with the Council. Its introduction has strengthened the Parliament's legislative powers.
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| Comitology | |
| Comitology is the term used to denote collectively the entire range of procedures whereby the European Commission is assisted by committees in its implementation of EU legislation. These committees, which are composed of representatives from Member States, enable the Commission to establish a dialogue with national administrations before adopting implementing measures.
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| Committee of the Regions (CoR) | |
| The Committee of the Regions consists of up to 350 representatives of local and regional authorities. It is consulted by the Council, Parliament and the Commission in areas affecting local and regional interests. It may also issue opinions on its own initiative.
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| Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) | |
| The aims of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), one of the EU’s primary policy areas, are to ensure reasonable prices for Europe's consumers and fair incomes for farmers, in particular by establishing common agricultural market organisations and by applying the principles of single prices, financial solidarity and Community preference.
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| Common European Security and Defence Policy (CESDP) | |
| The European Union's Common European Security and Defence Policy (CESDP) aims to allow the Union to develop its civilian and military capabilities for crisis management and conflict prevention at international level, thus helping to maintain international peace and security.
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| Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) | |
| The objectives pursued by the Common Foreign and Security Policy (the second pillar of the EU) are to safeguard the common values, fundamental interests, independence and integrity of the Union, to strengthen the security of the Union and international security, to promote international cooperation, to develop and consolidate democracy and the rule of law, and to uphold human rights and fundamental freedoms.
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| Common trade policy | |
| Common trade policy belongs to the exclusive responsibilities of the Community. This means that the EC can operate as a single entity in the international arena. The common trade policy has led to a customs union among the Member States. It is based on uniform principles, in particular in relation to tariff changes, the conclusion of tariff and trade agreements with third countries, and imports and exports policy.
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| Common market organisations (CMOs) | |
| The common market organisations (CMOs) are regimes governing production and trade in agricultural produce in all EU Member States. They are primarily a means of achieving the objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy. In particular, CMOs can help to stabilise markets, assure the people working in the agriculture sector of a reasonable standard of living, and increase productivity in this sector.
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| Common transport policy | |
| The common transport policy is geared towards introducing common rules for international transport. It applies to transport that starts or ends in the territory of a Member State or that uses the territory of one or more Member States. It includes the formulation of conditions to be met by foreign transport companies seeking admission to the national transport system of a Member State. Finally, it includes measures to promote transport safety.
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| Communitisation | |
| Communitisation means transferring a matter that, in the institutional framework of the Union, is dealt with using the intergovernmental method (second and third pillars) to the Community method (first pillar).
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| Community budget | |
| The Community budget includes almost all the EU’s revenue and expenditure. The expenditure that falls under the Common Foreign and Security Policy and funds used for the cooperation between police and judicial authorities in criminal matters are excluded from this budget.
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| Community law | |
| Strictly speaking, Community law consists of the founding Treaties (primary legislation) and the provisions of instruments enacted by the Community institutions by virtue of them (secondary legislation). In a broader sense, Community law encompasses all the rules of the Community legal order, including general principles of law, the case law of the Court of Justice, and supplementary law contained in conventions and similar agreements concluded between the Member States to give effect to treaty provisions.
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| Community method | |
| The Community method is the institutional operating mode in the first pillar of the European Union. It proceeds from a logic of integration with due respect for the subsidiarity principle, and has the following salient features: - Commission monopoly on the right of initiative;
- widespread use of qualified majority voting in the Council;
- an active role for the European Parliament;
- uniform interpretation of Community law by the Court of Justice.
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| Competitiveness | |
| Part of the European Commission’s remit is to pursue policies designed to enhance the EU’s competitiveness. These policies have four objectives: - helping European firms adapt to the new globalised and interdependent competitive situation;
- exploiting the competitive advantages associated with the gradual shift to a knowledge-based economy;
- promoting the sustainable development of industry;
- reducing the time lag between the pace of change in supply and the corresponding adjustments in demand.
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| Concentric circles | |
| This concept relates to the different levels of integration of states in Europe. Europe may be divided into subsets of states, each subset being in a different phase of the integration process. For instance, there is the circle of the EU’s Member States, and the circle of countries outside the Union waiting to join it.
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| Conciliation committee | |
| If the Council of the EU and the European Parliament (EU) are unable to reach agreement on the outcome of a codecision procedure, a conciliation committee can be appointed to with a view to reaching agreement on a text acceptable to both sides. A conciliation committee comprises the members of the Council or their representatives and an equal number of representatives of the EP.
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| Constructive abstention (also known as positive abstention) | |
| Constructive abstention means allowing a Member State to abstain on a vote in Council under the Common Foreign and Security Policy, without blocking a unanimous decision.
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| Consultation procedure | |
| The consultation procedure enables the European Parliament to give its opinion on a proposal from the Commission. This opinion is not binding.
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| Convergence criteria | |
| The convergence criteria laid down in the Treaties seek to bring about the sustainable convergence required for the achievement of economic and monetary union (EMU). The criteria relate to price stability, government finances, exchange rates, and long-term interest rates.
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| Cooperation procedure | |
| The cooperation procedure gives the European Parliament (EP) more influence in the legislative process. The procedure is always initiated by a proposal from the Commission forwarded to the Council and the EP. The EP issues an opinion on the Commission proposal. The Council then draws up a common position, which is forwarded to the EP. The EP then has three months to decide whether to adopt, amend or reject the common position. In the latter two cases it must do so by an absolute majority of its members. If the EP rejects the proposal, unanimity is required for the Council to act on a second reading. The Commission then re-examines, within one month, the proposal upon which the Council based its common position and forwards its proposal to the Council; at its discretion it can include or exclude the amendments proposed by the EP. Within three months, the Council may adopt the re-examined proposal by qualified majority, amend it unanimously or adopt the amendments not taken into consideration by the Commission, also unanimously. In the cooperation procedure, the Council may still exercise a veto by refusing to express its opinion on the amendments proposed by the EP or on the amended proposal from the Commission, thereby blocking the legislative procedure.
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| Coreper | |
| Coreper consists of the Member States' Permanent Representatives: Coreper I consists of the Deputy Permanent Representatives, and Coreper II consists of the Permanent Representatives themselves. Coreper prepares all Council decisions.
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| COREU (CORrespondance EUropéenne) | |
| COREU is an EU communications network between the Member States and the Commission for cooperation in the field of foreign policy.
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| Council of Europe | |
| The Council of Europe is an entirely separate institution from the European Union. It is an international organisation set up to promote unity, democracy, the principles of the rule of law and human rights within Europe. The headquarters of the Council of Europe are in Strasbourg.
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| Council of the European Union (formerly: Council of Ministers) | |
| The Council of the EU is composed of ministers of the Member States of the EU. It exists in a variety of configurations, depending on the subject to be discussed. Together with the European Parliament, the Council of the EU is in most cases the decision-making body of the EU.
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| Court of First Instance | |
| The Court of First Instance (CFI) was set up in 1989 to alleviate the workload of the European Court of Justice. Its establishment gave the EU two tiers of judicial authority; the Court of First Instance is the ordinary court for all direct actions.
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| Cultural policy | |
| The EU contributes to the development of the cultural policy of the Member States, while respecting their national and regional diversity and at the same time bringing the common cultural heritage to the fore. The EU also encourages cultural cooperation among Member States with a view to developing a European Cultural Area.
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| Customs Union | |
| The Customs Union was the basis for the common market (now known as the internal market). Its introduction was the primary objective pursued by the founders of the European Economic Community in 1958. As a result of the establishment of the Customs Union in 1968, all customs duties and restrictions among the Member States were abolished, a common customs tariff (CCT) was introduced throughout the European Community in relation to third-country goods, and a common commercial policy came into being.
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| D | | |
| Debate on the future of the European Union | |
| The Nice Declaration (2000) called for the initiation of a broad debate on the future of the EU, involving all interested parties. The aim is to gather together as many opinions as possible on the key issues relating to the future of Europe.
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| Decision | |
| Under the EC Treaty, a decision is a binding instrument issued by an institution of the European Community. A decision is binding only on the persons, companies or Member States mentioned in the decision.
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| Decisions and framework decisions (Justice and Home Affairs) | |
| Under Title VI of the EU Treaty, decisions and framework decisions are used in the cooperation between police and judicial authorities in criminal cases. They are used to ensure the approximation (a degree of harmonisation) of statutory legislation and provisions of administrative law among Member States. In all other cases involving cooperation between police and judicial authorities in criminal cases, decisions rather than framework decisions are used.
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| Directive | |
| A directive is an agreement that is binding upon all Member States for which it is intended. Member States are free to decide how to transpose it into national legislation and regulations. If a directive has not been transposed within the set time, citizens may nonetheless invoke the rights that ensue from it before national courts.
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| E | | |
| Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) | |
| Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) is the name given to the process of harmonising the economic and monetary policies of the Member States of the Union with a view to the introduction of a single currency, the euro. Under the Maastricht Treaty (1993), it was decided that EMU was to be achieved in three stages: the first stage encompassed the free movement of capital between Member States, closer coordination of economic policies and closer cooperation between central banks; the second stage involved convergence of the economic and monetary policies of the Member States and the creation of the European Central Bank; finally, the third stage consisted of the irrevocable fixing of exchange rates and introduction of the single currency on the foreign-exchange markets and for electronic payments, followed by the introduction of euro notes and coins from 1 January 2002. The challenges facing the long-term success of EMU are continued budgetary consolidation and closer coordination of Member States' economic policies.
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| Economic and social cohesion | |
| The common policy on economic and social cohesion seeks to achieve balanced development throughout the EU, reducing structural disparities between regions and promoting equal opportunities for all individuals.
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| eEurope | |
| The eEurope initiative was launched by the European Commission in a bid to create an information society for all Europeans. It forms part of what is known as the Lisbon strategy, which sets the objective for the European Union to become the world's most competitive and dynamic knowledge economy by 2010.
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| Employment Committee | |
| The task of the Employment Committee is to assist the Council with its responsibilities in this field. It monitors Member States' employment and labour market policies, promotes their coordination and delivers opinions. In performing its remit it consults the social partners (management and labour). The Employment Committee is made up of two representatives of each Member State and two representatives of the Commission.
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| Enhanced cooperation (also known as closer cooperation) | |
| The provision for enhanced or closer cooperation makes it possible for a smaller group of member states (a minimum of eight must be involved) to go further than the degree of integration provided for by the Treaties in a particular field. It is open to countries that do not participate in this enhanced cooperation to join in at a later stage.
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| Euro area | |
| Also known as the euro zone, this refers to the twelve countries that have introduced the single European currency, the euro: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.
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| Eurocrat | |
| A pun on the word “bureaucrat”, this term refers to the many thousands of EU citizens who work as officials for the EU’s institutions.
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| Europe Agreements | |
| Europe Agreements were a specific type of association agreements concluded between the European Union and the states of Central and Eastern Europe that recently joined the EU as well as with Romania and Bulgaria, the aim being to prepare the associated state for accession to the European Union.
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| European Central Bank (ECB) | |
| The European Central Bank is responsible for implementing the EU’s monetary policy as defined by the European System of Central Banks (ESCB).
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| European Commission | |
| The European Commission is the guardian of the Treaties and the interests of the Community. To fulfil this role, it possesses powers of initiative, implementation, management and control. It also represents the EU in the international arena in fields in which it possesses exclusive powers. Since 1 May 2004 the Commission has consisted of 30 Commissioners. In November a new Commission of 25 Commissioners will be sworn in.
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| European Communities | |
| The three European Communities that together make up the first pillar of the EU are: the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) and the European Community (EC, formerly the EEC).
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| European Constitution | |
| The draft treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe that was negotiated by the European Convention incorporates all the treaties into a single treaty. In addition, it introduces essential reforms to the EU’s institutional framework and in certain policy areas of the EU with a view to enlargement. The Charter of Fundamental Rights is an integral part of the draft treaty. After the Convention completed its work, the heads of state and government negotiated the terms of the Constitution at an Intergovernmental Conference (IGC), reaching agreement on a final text in June 2004.
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| European Convention | |
| The European Convention was an assembly set up to conduct a wide-ranging debate on the future of the EU. The Convention, which consisted of government representatives, members of national parliaments, Commissioners and MEPs, reached agreement in July 2003 on a draft treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe. The draft treaty consists of amendments to the Treaties, in particular to the EU’s institutional framework.
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| European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR) | |
| The European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR), which was adopted under the aegis of the Council of Europe, established a system of international protection for human rights. The Convention has been ratified by all the Member States of the European Union. The European Court of Human Rights functions as its supervisory body.
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| European Council | |
| The European Council consists of the heads of state and government of the Member States of the EU and meets at least twice a year. Its objectives are to give the European Union the impetus it needs in order to develop further and to define the main lines of EU policy. These meetings are also known as European Summits.
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| European Court of Auditors | |
| The European Court of Auditors checks European Union revenue and expenditure for legality and regularity and ensures that financial management is sound. It can report any irregularities to the European Parliament. The Court of Auditors is in Luxembourg.
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| European Court of Human Rights | |
| The European Court of Human Rights is an institution of the Council of Europe, not of the European Union. It was established under the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR). Nationals of States Parties to the Convention can apply to the Court (once they have exhausted domestic remedies) if they believe that a State Party has violated their human rights. The European Court of Human Rights is in Strasbourg.
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| European Court of Justice (ECJ) | |
| The European Court of Justice has the task of checking whether activities undertaken by the European institutions and of governments are compatible with the Treaties. In addition it can pronounce, at the request of a national court, on the interpretation or the validity of provisions contained in Community law.
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| Europe Day | |
| Europe Day is 9 May. This date was chosen because it was on 9 May 1950 that Robert Schuman (then French foreign minister) made his famous speech proposing European integration as the way to secure peace and build prosperity in postwar Europe. His proposals laid the foundations for what is now the European Union, so 9 May is celebrated annually as the EU’s birthday.
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| European arrest warrant | |
| The European arrest warrant is a judicial decision issued by a Member State with a view to the arrest and surrender by another Member State of a person being sought for a criminal prosecution or a custodial sentence. It is a tool designed to strengthen cooperation between the judicial authorities of the Member States and is based on the principle of mutual recognition of decisions in criminal matters.
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| European Convention | |
| At the Laeken European Council in December 2001, it was decided to establish a Convention on the future of the European Union. This Convention held its inaugural meeting on 28 February 2002, and prepared the subsequent Intergovernmental Conference. The Convention consisted of 102 representatives of the governments and national parliaments of the Member States, the European Parliament, the European Commission, and the national parliaments of the applicant countries. It prepared a draft for a European Constitution. It concluded its work in 2003.
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| European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) | |
| The European Economic and Social Committee represents the interests of the EU’s various economic and social groups. It currently consists of 350 members falling into three categories: employers, workers and representatives of particular types of activity (examples including farmers, craftsmen, and consumer representatives).
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| European Economic Community, EEC | |
| The European Economic Community was established by the Treaties of Rome in 1958 with the aim of promoting the integration of the economic activities of the Member States. The Maastricht Treaty (1992) changed its name to the European Community.
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| European Employment Strategy | |
| The European Employment Strategy is built around priority themes under the four pillars of employability, entrepreneurship, adaptability and equal opportunities. Each year the Member States draw up National Action Plans on Employment (NAPS) implementing these broad policy guidelines. The current goal is to achieve an approach that is better attuned to the needs of an ageing population, increasing women's participation in the labour market, enlargement, and the increasing pace of economic change.
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| European flag | |
| The European Flag consists of a circle of twelve gold stars against a blue background. The circle of gold stars stands for solidarity and harmony among the peoples of Europe. The number of stars has nothing to do with the number of Member States. There are twelve stars because the number twelve traditionally symbolises perfection, completeness and unity. The flag therefore remains the same, regardless of enlargements of the European Union.
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| European Investment Bank (EIB) | |
| The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the Community's financial institution. Its task is to contribute to the balanced development of the Community by way of economic integration and social cohesion. It pursues this goal by granting loans. Outside the European Union the EIB gives financial support to countries with which the EU has concluded agreements (applicant countries and countries receiving development assistance).
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| European Judicial Network in criminal matters (EJN) | |
| The purpose of the European Judicial Network (EJN) in criminal matters is to facilitate mutual legal assistance in the fight against transnational crime. It is made up of contact points designed to enable local judicial authorities and judicial authorities in other Member States to establish direct contact with one another.
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| European Ombudsman | |
| The European Ombudsman deals with complaints from any citizen or legal person of the Union or any natural or legal person residing in a Member State concerning instances of maladministration in the activities of the Community institutions or bodies (with the exception of the Court of Justice and the Court of First Instance). Where the Ombudsman establishes an instance of maladministration he conducts an investigation and may submit recommendations.
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| European Parliament (EP) | |
| The European Parliament (EP) represents the citizens of the EU. Since the recent enlargement it has consisted of 788 members; this number will fall to 732 after the elections in June 2004. Since 1979, MEPs have been elected for a five-year term of office by direct universal suffrage. The EP works with the Council in the legislative process, in some cases as colegislator, and also shares budgetary powers with the Council. In addition, it exercises democratic control over the EU’s institutions.
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| Europol | |
| The aim of the EU police service is to develop police cooperation between Member States in preventing and combating serious forms of international organised crime (e.g. drug trafficking, illegal immigration and terrorism). Europol is based in The Hague.
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| European Research Area (ERA) | |
| The European Research Area (ERA) brings together all the resources that the Community has at its disposal to better coordinate research and innovation activities. The aim is to formulate a common research policy.
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| European Union | |
| The European Union is the collective name for the three pillars of integration: the European Communities (first pillar), the Common Foreign and Security Policy (second pillar), and Justice and Home Affairs (third pillar). The European Union came into being on 1 November 1993.
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| Eurosceptic | |
| A term used to denote someone who opposes the process of European integration or who is sceptical of the benefits to be gained from the EU and its objectives.
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| External responsibilities of the European Community | |
| By the “external responsibilities” of the European Community is meant the EC’s powers to take concerted action in respect of the outside world. These responsibilities are defined as “exclusive” if they are exercised entirely by the EC, and “mixed” if they are exercised in part by the EC and in part by the Member States.
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| F | | |
| Financial Perspectives | |
| The Financial Perspectives constitute the framework for the Community’s expenditure over a period of several years. They are the result of agreement between the European Parliament, the Council, and the European Commission. They indicate the maximum expected level of expenditure, broken down into its various components. They do not coincide with the multiannual budget, because the annual budgeting procedure is necessary in order to establish the actual amount of the expenditure and its distribution over the different areas of the budget.
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| First pillar | |
| The first or Community pillar of the EU is made up of the three European Communities: the EC, Euratom (the European Atomic Energy Community) and the ECSC (European Coal and Steel Community).
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| Food safety | |
| As a result of the various food crises that have occurred in Europe over the past few years, food safety is now one of the main priorities of the European policy agenda. Food safety is directly related to the CAP, the environment, public health, consumer protection and the development of the internal market.
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| Fortress Europe | |
| The term “Fortress Europe” is sometimes used to indicate that Europe seeks to protect itself from external influences. The term is often used in discussions about asylum law and the regulations governing immigration.
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| Founding fathers | |
| Robert Schuman and Jean Monnet are sometimes referred to as the founding fathers of the European Union. It was these two men who conceived the idea, after the Second World War, of uniting the peoples of Europe so that there would never again be war in Europe.
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| Founding treaties | |
| The EU’s founding treaties are the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community (EEC), and the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom). Since their conclusion, other treaties amending the founding treaties have been concluded: the Single European Act, the Maastricht Treaty, the Treaty of Amsterdam, the Treaty of Nice, and most recently the treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe.
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| Four freedoms of movement | |
| There are four fundamental freedoms of movement in the EU: of goods, services, capital and people.
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| G | | |
| Governance | |
| The term “governance” includes all the rules, procedures and customs that make it possible to exercise power within the EU.
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| Green Papers | |
| Green Papers are documents published by the European Commission intended to stimulate debate about a particular issue. The ensuing consultations may lead to the publication of a White Paper, translating the conclusions of the debate into practical proposals for Community action.
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| Gymnich | |
| Gymnich is the name used for the informal six-monthly consultations held by the foreign ministers of EU member states. The name refers to a town in Germany where the first informal meeting of these ministers was held.
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| H | | |
| High Representative | |
| The task of the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy ("Mr/Ms CFSP"), which post is held by the Secretary-General of the Council, is to assist the Presidency of the Union in matters relating to the Common Foreign and Security Policy. He or she may conduct political dialogue with third parties, on the Council's behalf and at the request of the Presidency. The current High Representative for the CFSP is Javier Solana.
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| Human rights | |
| The European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR) describes the human rights that are applicable throughout all Member States of the Council of Europe. Any national of one of these Member States may complain to the European Court of Human Rights if it believes its own national government has violated one of these rights. The Court of Justice of the European Union has also affirmed these rights in its case law.
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| I | | |
| Information society | |
| This term refers to the impact on society of all new information and communication technologies, such as the increase in electronic exchanges of information, digital technologies, the exponential growth of the internet, and the liberalisation of the telecommunications sector.
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| Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) | |
| An Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) is a conference of representatives of the governments of Member States convened for the purpose of amending the treaties. The IGC in 2004, for instance, resulted in the adoption of a Constitution for Europe.
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| Intergovernmental method | |
| The intergovernmental method applies in the second and third pillars of the EU. Its main features are as follows: - The European Commission shares the right of initiative with the Member States, or retains this right in certain specified areas;
- General application of decision by unanimity in the Council;
- Advisory role for the European Parliament;
- Limited role for the European Court of Justice.
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| Intergouvernementeel | |
| Intergouvernementele samenwerking staat voor samenwerking tussen regeringen van verschillende staten.
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| Internal market (formerly “common market”) | |
| The internal market is based on the principle of four fundamental freedoms of movement: of goods, services, capital and people.
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| International Monetary Fund (IMF) | |
| The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an international institution that pursues the following objectives: - to promote international cooperation;
- to encourage economic growth and high levels of employment;
- to provide timely financial assistance to countries in need of it.
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| J | | |
| Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) (third pillar) | |
| The aim of cooperation in the spheres of Justice and Home Affairs is to create an area of freedom, security and justice. It is geared towards giving practical effect to the principle of the free movement of persons, and embraces such topics as asylum policy, immigration policy, combating drugs, combating international fraud, cooperation between customs authorities, and cooperation between police services and judicial authorities. Part of the working area of JHA was transferred to the first pillar under the Treaty of Amsterdam (1997); the remaining activities concern cooperation between police services and judicial authorities in criminal matters.
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| K | | |
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| L | | |
| Laeken Declaration | |
| The European Council adopted a Declaration on the Future of the European Union, known as the Laeken Declaration, on 15 December 2001, committing the Union to becoming more democratic, transparent and effective. It affirmed that the institutional reforms initiated by the Treaty of Nice should be continued. The European Council subsequently established a Convention to examine the fundamental issues involved.
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| Legislative procedure | |
| EU legislation is proposed by the European Commission. However, it is up to the Council and the European Parliament to debate and amend the Commission's proposals, and subsequently to decide whether or not to adopt them.
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| Lisbon strategy, Lisbon process | |
| The Lisbon strategy seeks to make the EU the world’s most competitive and dynamic knowledge economy by 2010. It is named after the city in which it was adopted, at the European Summit of March 2000.
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| M | | |
| Member States | |
| As from 1 May 2004, the Member States of the EU are as follows: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
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| N | | |
| Netherlands Antilles | |
| The Netherlands Antilles do not belong to the EU, but are “associated” with it. The purpose of this association is to promote the economic and social development of the Antilles and to develop close economic ties between these islands and the EU. The association creates scope for promoting the interests and prosperity of the islands’ population and, in so doing, to boost the economic, social and cultural development of the Netherlands Antilles.
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| Non-discrimination | |
| The principle of non-discrimination is a term used in connection with efforts to guarantee the equal treatment of all individuals.
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| North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) | |
| The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is a military alliance that was founded in 1949. The majority of EU Member States belong to NATO, and NATO in turn recognises the European Security and Defence Identity. The Secretary-General of NATO is the Dutchman Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.
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| OLAF | |
| OLAF (Office Européen de lutte anti-fraude) is the European anti-fraud office. Its task is to combat fraud against the European budget. OLAF conducts independent research into the management and financing of all the Union's institutions.
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| Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) | |
| The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is an organisation with 55 participating states, including the United States, Canada, and the individual countries of Europe, as well as all the countries of the former Soviet Union. The OSCE is the only European security organisation of which the Russian Federation is a full member. The OSCE's main activities involve efforts to prevent conflict situations arising and, in the aftermath of a conflict, to help rebuild democracy and the rule of law. It collaborates closely with the EU.
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| Opt-out | |
| An opt-out is an exemption granted to a country that does not wish to join the other Member States in a particular area of Community cooperation as a way of avoiding a general stalemate.
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| Own resources | |
| The Community budget is fully funded by the Member States’ transfers or “own resources”. These consist of agricultural duties and production and storage levies, customs duties, the VAT resource and the “fourth resource”, which is a percentage of the total GNP of all the Member States.
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| P | | |
| Parliamentary committees | |
| Parliamentary committees are committees within the European Parliament (EP) that organise its work and prepare its decisions.
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| PHARE | |
| PHARE is the Community programme for support to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. The PHARE programme was launched after the collapse of the communist regimes in this region, the aim being to help these countries to reform their economies. PHARE’s current programme for the period 2000-2006 includes the following two priorities: institution building and consolidating the administration of the ten new Member States, and financing investment.
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| Pillars | |
| The Maastricht Treaty introduced the three “pillars” of the EU. The first pillar consists of the European Communities, the second pillar is the Common Foreign and Security Policy, and the third pillar now consists of police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters.
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| Political and Security Committee (PSC) | |
| The Political and Security Committee (PSC) follows international developments in the field of common foreign and security policy (CFSP), helps to define policies and monitors their implementation. Under the authority of the Council, it is responsible for the political control and strategic guidance of crisis management operations. Composed mainly of national representatives, the PSC is at the heart of the EU’s crisis management activities.
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| Pre-accession support | |
| To enable applicant countries to adhere to the rules of the EU at the moment of accession, the EU provides them with financial aid.
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| Preliminary rulings of the European Court of Justice | |
| To ensure the effective application of Community law and to prevent national courts from interpreting Community law differently, the Treaties provided for a system of preliminary rulings that, while not setting up any hierarchical relationship, has institutionalised fruitful cooperation between the Court of Justice and the national courts. In cases involving Community law, national courts, if in doubt as to the interpretation or validity of that law, may, and in some cases must, seek a preliminary ruling from the Court of Justice on the relevant questions. The Court's ruling determines the law. That is to say, it explains what Community law is in a given case. The national Court to which this ruling is addressed is then obliged to apply this law in the case pending before it, exactly in accordance with the Court's interpretation, without altering or diluting this interpretation in any way.
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| Presidency of the European Union | |
| The Presidency of the Union is held by each Member State in turn on a six-monthly basis. Besides chairing Council meetings, the Presidency’s job includes preparing the Council’s agenda, maintaining contacts with Member States, and representing the EU at international level.
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| President of the European Commission | |
| The President of the European Commission decides on the internal organisation of the Commission. He also appoints the vice-presidents and may request the dismissal of a Commissioner. The President is appointed following nomination by the Council and subsequent approval of this nomination by the European Parliament.
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| Q | | |
| Qualified Majority Voting (QMV) | |
| In the qualified majority voting procedure, each member state’s vote in the Council is weighted according to a set formula. A qualified majority is the number of votes required for a decision to be adopted. Until 1 November 2004, the threshold for the qualified majority is set at 88 votes out of 124; as from 1 November it will rise to 232 votes out of 321. A Member State may request that a check be performed to confirm that a particular qualified majority represents at least 62% of the total population of the EU.
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| R | | |
| Right of initiative | |
| So that it can play its role as guardian of the Treaties and defender of the general interest the Commission has been given a right of initiative that empowers and requires it to make proposals on the matters contained in the Treaty. Its proposals are subsequently put to the Council and the European Parliament. The Commission’s power of initiative is exclusive in respect of Community matters; under the common foreign and security policy both the Commission and the Member States may make proposals. On the other hand the Commission has no such right in certain areas relating to justice and home affairs.
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| Right of petition | |
| Any citizen of the Union, and any natural or legal person residing or having its registered office in a Member State, may petition Parliament, either individually or in association with others, about a matter that comes within the Community’s fields of activity and affects the petitioner directly.
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| Recasting of legislation | |
| The recasting of legislation means the adoption, when an amendment is made to a basic instrument, of a new legal instrument that incorporates the said amendment into the basic instrument, and at the same time repeals and replaces the latter.
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| Recommendations and opinions | |
| Recommendations and opinions issued by EU institutions are non-binding (with the exception of the ECSC system, in which this applies only to opinions) and are explanatory in nature.
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| Screening | |
| Screening (or "acquis screening") is the process whereby the European Commission examines the compatibility of the legislation of applicant countries with the common rules of the EU.
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| Second pillar | |
| The second pillar of the EU consists of the Common Foreign and Security Policy.
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| Single European Act | |
| The Single European Act was the first modification of the founding treaties of the European Communities. Its primary objective was to achieve the completion of the internal market (Europe 1992), in particular by expanding the scope of qualified majority voting. It also strengthened the role of the European Parliament in a bid to redress the “democratic deficit” in the EU.
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| Social Charter | |
| The Social Charter imposes political obligations on member states. It was adopted by most Member States in 1989 in the form of a declaration containing "moral obligations" whose object is to guarantee that certain social rights are respected in the countries concerned. These primarily relate to the labour market, vocational training, equal opportunities and the working environment.
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| Social Dialogue | |
| The Social Dialogue is a consultative procedure for the social partners (employers and employees) at European level. It involves discussion, joint action and sometimes negotiations between the European social partners, and discussions between the social partners and the Union institutions. Ever since the Single European Act (1986) the Treaty has formally required the Commission to develop this dialogue.
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| Stability and Growth Pact | |
| The aim of the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP) is to ensure that the Member States maintain budgetary discipline after introducing the single currency. It imposes on Member States participating in Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) the obligation to draw up a stability programme, while the remaining Member States are required to submit a convergence programme along the same lines. The Stability and Growth Pact opens the way for the Council to penalise any participating Member State that fails to take appropriate measures to end an excessive deficit.
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| State aid | |
| States are not allowed to grant aid, or provide aid through state resources, to favour certain enterprises or the production of certain goods. Any advantage conferred by the state is regarded as state aid where it confers an economic advantage on the recipient, it is granted selectively to certain enterprises or products, it may distort competition, and it affects trade between Member States. However, an absolute ban on state aid is impossible, and certain exemptions are provided for. States wishing to provide such aid can do so only with the prior consent of the European Commission.
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| Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund | |
| The Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund are part of the Community's structural policy, which is intended to narrow the gaps in development among the regions and Member States of the European Union.
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| Subsidiary powers | |
| Acting on a proposal from the Commission, the Council may take appropriate measures without having the express powers to do so under the terms of the Treaties. It may do so if action by the Community should prove necessary to attain one of the objectives of European integration.
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| Subsidiarity | |
| The subsidiarity principle is intended to ensure that decisions are taken as closely as possible to the citizen. This means that the Union does not take action (except in the areas that fall within its exclusive competence) unless it is more effective than action taken at national, regional or local level.
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| Supranational cooperation | |
| Supranational cooperation is cooperation whereby national regulatory and administrative powers are transferred to an international body. In entering into this type of cooperation, states restrict their own national sovereignty; they are bound by the rules of the supranational body.
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| Suspension clause | |
| The suspension clause was written into the EU Treaty by the Treaty of Amsterdam. Under this clause, some of a Member State's rights (e.g. its voting rights in the Council) may be suspended if it seriously and persistently breaches the principles on which the Union is founded. But its obligations would still be binding.
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| T | | |
| Technical Assistance Information Exchange Office (TAIEX) | |
| TAIEX stands for Technical Assistance Information Exchange Office. This Office was set up to assist and inform the countries of Central and Eastern Europe on the legislation relating to the internal market. TAIEX deals with the public administrations in the applicant countries and the Member States and private-sector associations. It provides the legal texts of the Community acquis and organises training seminars and visits by experts to countries which so request. It has a key role in the process of assessing whether the legislation of the applicant countries conforms with Community legislation. It also assists with the transposition and implementation of the acquis in the applicant countries.
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| Terrorism | |
| The EU seeks to guarantee a high level of freedom, security and justice. To do so, a number of measures have to be taken: better cooperation must be achieved among police services and judicial authorities, the supply of funds to terrorism must be halted, and the security of air travel must be improved.
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| Third countries | |
| Third countries are countries that are not members of the EU.
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| Third pillar | |
| The third pillar refers to the police and judicial cooperation among EU Member States in criminal matters.
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| Title V of the EU Treaty | |
| Title V of the EU Treaty, also known as the “second pillar”, contains the provisions establishing a Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP).
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| Title VI of the EU Treaty | |
| Title VI of the EU Treaty, also known as the “third pillar”, contains the provisions establishing cooperation on Justice and Home Affairs (JHA).
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| Treaty | |
| A treaty is a binding written agreement among states, or between states and international organisations. Legally speaking, agreements, conventions and protocols fall under the general heading of "treaties".
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| Treaty of Amsterdam | |
| In this treaty, which entered into effect on 1 May 1999, a number of new agreements were made in the realm of EU governance: - Citizens now have the right to inspect documents produced by the European Commission and the European Parliament (EP). The Council of the EU also has an obligation to make the minutes of its meetings available when it acts in its legislative capacity;
- The EP has the last word in more policy areas than before. It has also acquired more influence on appointments to the Commission;
- Measures to combat fraud with Community funds have been improved. The European Court of Auditors has acquired more powers to monitor the management of Community funds. The customs services of the Member States have acquired more scope to cooperate to combat fraud.
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| Treaty of Maastricht (Maastricht Treaty; Treaty on European Union; EU Treaty) | |
| The Maastricht or EU Treaty was signed on 7 February 1992 by the then 12 Member States of the European Community. It expanded the existing EC Treaties by adding provisions governing cooperation on economic and monetary policy, foreign and security policy, social policy, and elements of the policy areas of justice and home affairs. In addition, the existing cooperation in a number of these areas was furnished with a new legal framework in the EU Treaty. The first (Community) pillar of the EU Treaty consists of the previous, partly amended EC Treaties and new provisions governing the formation of an Economic and Monetary Union. The second and third (intergovernmental) pillars of the EU Treaty consist of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and cooperation in the areas of Justice and Home Affairs (JHA). The EU Treaty also invested the European Parliament with additional powers, the most important of which being the right of codecision. Finally, the EU Treaty incorporated a text on the principle of subsidiarity. The European Union came into being when this treaty entered into effect, on 1 November 1993.
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| Treaty of Nice | |
| On 11 December 2000, political agreement was reached in Nice concerning a new treaty amending the EC Treaty (the Treaty of Rome) and the EU Treaty. The main goal was to make institutional changes that would prepare the EU for the forthcoming enlargement. The Treaty was signed on 26 February 2001 and entered into effect on 1 February 2003 following ratification by all Member States. The most important changes introduced by the Treaty of Nice are as follows: - More scope for the Council to make decisions by qualified majority vote instead of by unanimity, and the adjustment of the weighting of votes within the Council with a view to enlargement;
- More scope for the European Parliament to exercise the right of codecision in the legislative process in relation to decisions that the Council adopts by quality majority vote, and an increase in the number of seats in the Parliament with a view to enlargement;
- The adjustment of the composition of the Commission. From 2005 onwards, the Commission will be composed of one Commissioner from each Member State (the five large Member States will relinquish their second Commissioner). Once the EU has 27 Member States, a decision will be taken on having fewer Commissioners than the total number of Member States.
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| Treaties of Rome | |
| The Treaties of Rome established the European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community. The treaties entered into effect on 1 January 1958.
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| Troika | |
| The EU Troika currently consists of the incumbent EU Presidency country, the next holder of the EU Presidency and the Secretary General of the Council (who is also the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy).
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| Two-speed Europe | |
| This refers to the theoretical possibility that, in future, a particular “core” group of EU Member States may decide to move faster than others along the road of European integration. It is already possible for a group of EU countries to work together more closely than others under an arrangement known as closer or “enhanced” cooperation.
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| U | | |
| Unanimity | |
| If a decision must be taken by unanimity, all the Member States meeting in the Council must be in agreement before a proposal can be adopted. Every Member State possesses the right of veto.
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| W | | |
| World Bank | |
| The World Bank is not a “bank” in the common sense. It is one of the United Nations’ specialised agencies, and is made up of 184 member countries. These countries are jointly responsible for how the institution is financed and how its money is spent. Along with the rest of the development community, the World Bank centres its efforts on reaching the Millennium Development Goals, agreed to by UN members in 2000 and aimed at sustainable poverty reduction. The World Bank Group’s mission is to fight poverty and improve the living standards of people in the developing world. It is a development bank that provides loans, policy advice, technical assistance and knowledge-sharing services to low and middle-income countries to reduce poverty. The World Bank promotes growth to create jobs and to empower people living in poverty to take advantage of these opportunities.
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| World Trade Organisation (WTO) | |
| The WTO is the only global international organisation dealing with the rules of trade between nations. At its heart are the WTO agreements, negotiated and signed by the bulk of the world’s trading nations and approved by their parliaments. The goal is to help producers of goods and services, exporters, and importers conduct their business. 148 countries belong to the WTO.
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| White Papers | |
| Commission White Papers are documents containing proposals for Community action in a specific area. Once a White Paper has been favourably received by the Council, it can become the action programme for the Union in the area concerned.
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