All the stats and facts about the European Union in a nutshell.

A

Accession Countries
Any 'European' country applying for membership of the European Union and aiming to fulfil the so-called Accession Criteria

Accession Criteria (Copenhagen Criteria)
In 1993 the Copenhagen European Council recognised the right of the Central and Eastern Europe countries (CEECs) to join the Union on satisfying three criteria:
Political - institutional stability to guarantee democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the rights of minorities;
Economic - a functioning market economy;
Legal - adoption of the body of Community law, the acquis communautaire, including the political, economic and monetary goals of the Union.
The Union reserves the right to decide when it considers itself ready to accept new members

Acquis Communautaire
The body of common laws and obligations of the Member States of the European Union. It comprises Community (EC) law, acts adopted under the second and third pillars of the Union and the common objectives set down in the Treaties. The acquis is constantly evolving

Appointment of the Commission
The President of the Commission is nominated, under general agreement, by the Member States and requires the approval of the European Parliament. Then, the Member States in tandem with the Commission President put forward their candidates as members of the Commission who are also subject to a vote of approval before the Parliament

C

Citizenship of the Union
Every citizen of a Member State is also considered a citizen of the Union. Citizenship of the Union does not substitute national citizenship but in addition

Community Law
There are two basic types: the Treaties (primary legislation) and acts adopted by the EU institutions in application of the Treaties (secondary legislation). Broadly speaking, this comprises all applicable legal instruments, including the general principles of law; the case law of the Court of Justice and the various types acts (regulations, directives, decisions) concluded in meeting the objectives of the Treaties. These constitute the so-called 'acquis communautaire'.

Community Method
This refers to the institutional arrangements for the First Pillar of the European Union and is characterised by:
- Commission's monopoly of the Right of Initiative;
- to adopt legislation a qualified majority vote is required in the Council;
- the active involvement, usually in a co-legislative capacity, of the European Parliament;
- the common interpretation of Community law by the Court of Justice.

Constructive Abstention (Positive Abstention)
Introduced by the Amsterdam Treaty, Constructive Abstention falls under the CFSP and refers to the principle by which a Member State's abstention within the Council does not act as an obstacle to unanimity amongst the others. The abstaining state is not obliged to apply the decision itself but must accept that the Union is bound to follow it through

Convergence Criteria
The Treaty specifies five Convergence Criteria to be met by Member States participating in the third phase of Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), namely:
1. The ratio of public deficit to GDP should not rise above 3%;
2. The ratio of public debt to GDP should not be above 60%;
3. The average rate of inflation should not exceed that of the average of the three best performing EU economies by 1.5% or above;
4. Average medium to long-term interest rates should not exceed that of the average of the three best performing economies by 2% or more;
5. The currency should not fluctuate outside of the agreed bands of the European exchange rate mechanism for two years

Coreper
Coreper (Committee of Permanent Representatives) is composed of the officials from the Permanent Representatives of the Member States to the EU. Coreper is charged with assisting the Council in dealing with proposals for legislation, particularly in pre-negotiating phase. It performs a central role in Community decision-making on two levels: Coreper I comprising government experts from the Permanent Representations; and Coreper II made up of the Permanent Representatives (ambassadors) themselves

Correspondance Européenne (Coreu)
A network of European correspondents in all EU Member States and the Commission communicating by means of encrypted messages and coordinating daily CFSP business and preparing the meetings of the Political and Security Committee and the CFSP points discussed in the Council and the European Council

Council of the European Union
The principle institution of the Union which has primary decision-making powers (now shared with the Parliament for most policy areas). Council meetings consist of the respective ministers of the Member States in the individual policy areas (eg, finance, foreign affairs, agriculture, industry, transport). The Council Presidency follows that of the EU with Member States taking turns every six months.

Court of Auditors
Composed of 15 members charged with checking the legality and regularity of EU expenditure as well as ensuring sound financial management. Members are nominated and approved by the Council of EU and receive a mandate of six years

Court of Justice
Fifteen standing judges with the assistance of 9 advocates general perform two critical functions: to hold to account the actions of the EU institutions and Member States in regard to the Treaties; to rule, at the request of national authorities, on the interpretation or validity of Community legislation. The Court is assisted by the Court of First Instance, which deals primarily with inter-institutional matters and competition policy

D

Democratic Deficit
A charge often levelled at the European Union is that it is undemocratic and that its complex nature leaves it remote for its citizens. Such perceptions stem from the dominance within the institutional set up of the Council, which has accumulated legislative and governmental powers for itself, and from the lack of democratic legitimacy of the Commission. Redressing this imbalance requires a strengthening of the Parliament's role

Differentiated Integration (Flexibility)
This concept, established by the Treaty of Amsterdam, allows Member States more willing to go further with European integration to do so while ensuring that those left behind retain the possibility of catching up later

E

Economic Social Committee (ESC)
It has 222 members including employers' and employees' representatives, as well as representatives of specific activities. The ESC's opinion is required for certain legislative acts and it may also undertake own initiatives

Economic Monetary Union (EMU)
EMU is the name for the process leading up to and including the adoption of a single European currency, the euro. It follows three phases:
Phase 1 (1 July 1990 - 31 December 1993) marks the free circulation of capital between the Member States, strengthening of economic policy cooperation and increased cooperation between national central banks;
Phase 2 (1 January 1994 - 31 December 1998) marks the convergence of economic and monetary policies of the Member States (guaranteeing price stability and sound public finances);
Phase 3 (1 January 1999 -) marks the creation of a European Central Bank, fixing exchanges rates and the introduction of a single currency

Enlargement
The accession of new countries to the European Union. Between 1973 and 1975 in addition to the six founding Member States (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and The Netherlands) there have been five successive enlargements bringing in Austria, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom,Cyprus, The Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia. Bulgaria and Romania comprise the second part of the EU's fifth enlargement and are currently scheduled to join it on January 1, 2007. Bulgaria and Romania signed their Treaty of Accession on April 25, 2005 at Luxembourg's Neumuenster Abbey. There is a clause in the Accession Treaty of Bulgaria and Romania about a possible postponement of the joining date to 1 January 2008. In Spring 2006 the European Commission delayed a final decision on accession until November 2006, citing concerns over various problems such as health and safety and corruption, particularly in Bulgaria.

European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
Known by its French acronym, OLAF is charged with fighting the fraud and mismanagement of EU funds

Eurocorp
Established at the 1992 Franco-German Summit. Later joined by Belgium, Luxembourg and Spain, Eurocorp consists of 50,000 and has been operative as of November 1995. Eurocorp may be used for WEU or NATO (Article 5) operations. It may be used for humanitarian missions, peace making or peacekeeping as well as for the evacuation of citizens under the aegis of the UN or the OSCE

European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. It acts as the guardian of the EU treaties to ensure that EU legislation is applied correctly, prepares policy initiatives and presents legislation suggestions, and serves as an authority in certain fields. As regards economic policy, the Commission provides recommendations for economic guidelines and reports matters relating to economic development and economic policy to the Council of the European Union. It monitors the public economy status of the member states and makes reports on this to the Council. The Commission has 20 members; Germany, Spain, French, Italy, and the UK have two members each, and the rest of the member states one each.

European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)
Signed in Rome on 4 November 1950 under the aegis of the Council of Europe (NB not the European Council), an international system for the protection of human rights, which offers each individual access to justice in respect of their rights. Situated in Strasbourg, a number of bodies were set up to give the Convention substance: a Commissioner for Human Rights charged with instructing citizens about their rights, the European Court of Human Rights which can take up legal proceedings on the behalf of the Committee or the Member States, and a Committee of Ministers who act as custodians of the Convention ruling on violations not dealt with by the Court itself

European Council
The regular meetings of the heads of state and government of the Member States. These meetings are convened twice a year and are also attended by the President of the Commission. The European Council meets to give guidance to the general policy direction of the EU institutions and provide a stimulus to new developments.

European Parliament
The European Parliament is the only democratically elected institution directly representing the interests of the EU's 450 million citizens. Its chief tasks are dealing with the legislative proposals issued by the Commission for which it has either a consultative or co-legislative role with the Council. It also shares control of the EU's ?15 billion annual budget with the Council and has the sole final right of approval.

Europol (European Police Office)
Based in The Hague, Europol is an international agency, established by 'the Europol Convention' - signed and ratified by the Member States of the European Union but not part of the European Union - that provides umbrella support for cooperation between their national police forces. To take part in operations, an "organised criminal structure must be involved and two or more Member States should be affected". The activities in question include drug, vehicle or people trafficking, trafficking in nuclear materials, forgery of money or other means of payment, terrorism and money laundering.

F

Financial Perspective
The financial framework for the European Union's activities over a six-year period and the result of an inter-institutional agreement between the European Parliament, Council and Commission. It specifies the extent and form of expenditure foreseen

G

Green Paper
Document published by the Commission in order to stimulate a wider debate or public consultation at the European level. Such consultations often lead to the publication of a White Paper, which translates the results of the consultation into concrete action

H

High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)
This position was brought in by the Amsterdam Treaty and is carried out by the Secretary-General of the Council who assists the Presidency of the EU in matters of the common foreign and security policy of the Union. Known by its French acronym as Mr PESC

Human Rights
The broad term referring to the right of every man, woman and child to protection by law from a wide range of injustices including torture, rape, false imprisonment, abuse or persecution on grounds of race, religion or sexuality. Respect for human rights as defined in the European Convention on Human Rights was included in the Treaties and affirmed by the Court of Justice

Intergovernmental Method
The Intergovernmental Method applies to the Second and Third Pillars of the Union and implies a form of intergovernmental cooperation characterised by a prominent role for the Council, a purely consultative role for the Parliament and the limited involvement of the Court of Justice.

M

Map of Europe
The Map of Europe (under construction) promises to explore in a concise and accessible manner the basic principles behind the European political system, the institutional set up of the EU, and the rules governing relations between the institutions and citizens. A second part outlines the Treaties and the allocation of competences in the Union

N

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation)
Founded in 1949 (by the Washington Treaty) and based in Brussels, Belgium. It has 16 member states, namely the EU Member States (except Austria, Finland, Ireland and Sweden), Canada, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Iceland, Norway, Poland, Turkey and the USA. The EU's Security and Defence Policy is designed to respect the obligations of the NATO Treaty on its members.

O

OBJECTIVES 1, 2 and 3
The distribution of Structural Funds is defined in terms of objectives and falls into three categories:
Objective 1: structural adjustment in underdeveloped regions
Objective 2: economic and social conversion of areas facing structural difficulties
Objective 3: adaptation and modernisation of national policies and systems of education, training and employment

P

Parliamentary Committees
Set up by the European Parliament to carry out its daily work. The current 17 permanent committees deal with the Commission's legislative proposals as well as other Parliamentary business (eg, budget, petitions). The Parliament may also create temporary committees and committees of enquiry

Police Judicial Cooperation on Criminal Matters
Cooperation in the fight against racism, xenophobia, terrorism, trafficking in human beings, crimes against minors, corruption, and trafficking in drugs and arms

Political Committees
Political bodies within the foreign affairs ministries of the Member States charged with following international developments in order to provide the Council with relevant opinions

Political Security Committee (PSC, or COPS)
Lynchpin of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP). Pending ratification of the Nice Treaty, the PSC has a central role to play in the definition of and follow up to the EU's response to a crisis. It is composed of national representatives at senior/ambassador level, placed within the framework of Member States' Permanent Representations; the Commission is also fully associated with its work

Presidency of the Union (Rotating Presidency)
The Member States take turns holding the Presidency of the Union for six months at a time. During its Presidency the Member State assumes responsibility for driving the work of the Union forward and overseeing the sound functioning of the EU institutions

Q

Qualified Majority
The number of votes required in the Council for the adoption of acts falling under Article 205 of the EC Treaty. This includes most single market policies except for instance taxation and social security.

R

Reinforced Cooperation
Introduced by the Amsterdam Treaty to allow EU Member States more willing or keen to deepen the process of European integration room to do so. The onset of enlargement underlines the importance of Reinforced Cooperation since as the number of Member States grows, so too will the number of 'slower' countries that are willing to hold up the others

Reinforced Qualified Majority
Under certain circumstances the need for a unanimous vote can be substituted by a Reinforced Qualified Majority that is a majority of above the 71% of votes required for a qualified majority. The RQM is designed to provide an alternative to unanimity thus helping to avoid the paralysis of decision-making in an enlarged European Union. This option will be under discussion at the next Intergovernmental Conference in 2004. See also Qualified Majority

Right of Initiative
The Commission is mandated and has sole right to initiate new proposals for legislation based on the substance of the Treaties, or in such circumstances it feels opportune, or at the request of the Council or the Parliament

Right of Petition
Every EU citizen, physical or legal person, enjoys the right to petition the Union on any matter falling under the Community's competence and which concerns them directly. The Parliament deals with all such petitions

S

Social Charter
The "Charter of the fundamental social rights of workers" was adopted in 1989 by all EU Member States except the United Kingdom (which has since also adopted the Charter) to guarantee respect for certain social rights in the labour markets, namely, vocational training, equal opportunities and an acceptable working environment. The Charter was integrated into the Treaties with the entry into force of the Amsterdam Treaty in 1997

Social Partners
For proposals in the area of social policy the Commission is obliged to consult with the Social Partners. These are the representatives of employees (ETUC, the European Trade Union Confederation), of employers (UNICE, the Union of Industries of the European Community, and UEAPME, the European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises) and of the public sector (CEEP, the European Centre for Public Enterprise)

Stability Growth Pact
A package of measures falling under the third phase of Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) starting on 1 January 1999. The Pact forces members of the single currency area to maintain budgetary discipline or face political as well as financial penalties

Structural Funds, Cohesion Funds
The Community's structural policy aims at reducing disparities in the level of development between the Member States and between regions in the EU. The total amount budgeted for the 2000-2006 period is ?213 billion. There are four types of financial instrument:
-European Social Funds (ESF)
-European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF)
-European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
-Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG)
The Cohesion Funds are available to Member States with a GDP less than 90% that of the Community average (Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Spain) and are granted for projects in the environment and transport sectors

Sustainable Development
Economic growth achieved by means, which do not significantly compromise conditions for future generations, particularly regarding the environment and social spheres

T

Tax Policy
Despite the establishment of the single market and economic and monetary union, there is no real tax policy at the Community level. Certain provisions are outlined in the EC Treaty but they require unanimity in the Council for adoption. The need for unanimity frequently handicaps or delays indefinitely direct or indirect taxation measures

U

Unanimity
The adoption of legislative proposals in certain areas of EU policy requires that that there is unanimity amongst the Member States in the Council. Such cases provide the exception under the First Pillar while under the Second and Third Pillars where policy is conducted along intergovernmental lines unanimity is the norm.

W

Weighting of Votes in the Council
The weighting of votes during a qualified majority vote in the Council is the result of a compromise between Member States, equal under the law, but otherwise in practise. The number of votes per country is based on its population size but adjusted in favour of the smaller, less-populated Member States

Western European Union (WEU)
Established in 1948 in support of cooperation on security and defence, the WEU has 28 members including the EU Member States bar Austria, Denmark, Finland, Ireland and Sweden who enjoy observer status. The Treaty on European Union considers it an "integral part of the development of the European Union" while retaining its institutional autonomy.

White Paper
Document published by the Commission containing proposals for action in specific areas of Community policy. Frequently these follow a Green Paper, which initiated a Community-wide consultation on a specific theme. Examples include the White Paper on the completion of the internal market, or the White Paper on growth, competitiveness and employment.