Concept 3-line exam definition
Concept Exam-ready definition
European The EU’s directly elected law-making body, elected every 5
Parliament years. It has three main roles: legislative (adopts EU laws with the
Council), supervisory (democratic scrutiny of EU institutions) and
budgetary (adopts the EU budget with the Council).
European Court of The EU’s judicial authority, ensuring that EU law is interpreted
Justice (ECJ) and applied uniformly in all member states. It settles legal
disputes involving member states and EU institutions and gives
preliminary rulings when national courts ask how EU law should be
interpreted.
Schengen Agreement that created the Schengen Area, where internal border
Agreement controls between participating countries are generally abolished,
enabling free movement of persons. It is accompanied by common
rules on external borders, visas, police and security
cooperation.
1957 Treaty of Treaty signed in 1957 by the six founding states establishing the
Rome European Economic Community (EEC). It aimed to create a
common market and customs union, remove barriers to trade
and promote closer economic integration.
EU Regulation A binding EU legal act that applies in its entirety and directly in
all member states. Unlike a directive, it does not need to be
transposed into national legislation, helping create uniform rules
throughout the EU.
EU Directive A binding EU legal act that requires member states to achieve a
specified result, but allows national authorities to choose the form
and methods. It generally has to be transposed into national
lawwithin a specified deadline.
EU A non-binding EU legal act through which EU institutions
Recommendation recommend a particular course of action to member states or other
actors. It can influence national policy but does not create a legal
obligation to comply.
Council of the EU EU institution representing the governments of the member
states, where national ministers meet according to the policy area
concerned. Together with Parliament, it negotiates and adopts EU
, legislation and the EU budget and helps coordinate member-state
policies.
Concept Exam-ready definition
European Council EU institution consisting of the heads of state or government of
the member states, together with its President and the
Commission President. It defines the EU’s general political
direction and priorities, but does not normally adopt EU
legislation.
Subsidiarity Principle that decisions should be taken as closely to citizens as
possible. In areas without exclusive EU competence, the EU
should act only when objectives cannot be sufficiently achieved
by member states and can be better achieved at EU level.
Treaty of Lisbon EU treaty that entered into force in 2009 and reformed EU
institutions and decision-making. It strengthened the European
Parliament, expanded qualified-majority voting, gave the EU a
single legal personality, and increased the efficiency and
democratic legitimacy of the EU.
Maastricht Treaty Treaty signed in 1992 that formally created the European Union. It
laid the foundations for Economic and Monetary Union and the
euro, introduced EU citizenship, and expanded European
cooperation beyond mainly economic matters.
Stability and EU framework for coordinating and monitoring member states’
Growth Pact fiscal policies and maintaining sound public finances. Traditionally,
(SGP) it applied the reference values of a government deficit of 3% of
GDP and public debt of 60% of GDP, with preventive and
corrective procedures.
Four Freedoms The foundation of the EU Single Market: free movement of goods,
services, capital and personsbetween member states. They aim
to remove barriers to cross-border economic activity and allow
people and businesses to operate throughout the EU.
Single European Treaty signed in 1986 that aimed to complete the internal market
Act (SEA) by 1992. It expanded the use of qualified-majority voting, making
it easier to adopt legislation removing remaining physical, technical
and fiscal barriers between member states.
Single European The EU’s integrated economic area based on the four freedoms:
Market goods, services, capital and persons. It removes internal barriers
Concept Exam-ready definition
European The EU’s directly elected law-making body, elected every 5
Parliament years. It has three main roles: legislative (adopts EU laws with the
Council), supervisory (democratic scrutiny of EU institutions) and
budgetary (adopts the EU budget with the Council).
European Court of The EU’s judicial authority, ensuring that EU law is interpreted
Justice (ECJ) and applied uniformly in all member states. It settles legal
disputes involving member states and EU institutions and gives
preliminary rulings when national courts ask how EU law should be
interpreted.
Schengen Agreement that created the Schengen Area, where internal border
Agreement controls between participating countries are generally abolished,
enabling free movement of persons. It is accompanied by common
rules on external borders, visas, police and security
cooperation.
1957 Treaty of Treaty signed in 1957 by the six founding states establishing the
Rome European Economic Community (EEC). It aimed to create a
common market and customs union, remove barriers to trade
and promote closer economic integration.
EU Regulation A binding EU legal act that applies in its entirety and directly in
all member states. Unlike a directive, it does not need to be
transposed into national legislation, helping create uniform rules
throughout the EU.
EU Directive A binding EU legal act that requires member states to achieve a
specified result, but allows national authorities to choose the form
and methods. It generally has to be transposed into national
lawwithin a specified deadline.
EU A non-binding EU legal act through which EU institutions
Recommendation recommend a particular course of action to member states or other
actors. It can influence national policy but does not create a legal
obligation to comply.
Council of the EU EU institution representing the governments of the member
states, where national ministers meet according to the policy area
concerned. Together with Parliament, it negotiates and adopts EU
, legislation and the EU budget and helps coordinate member-state
policies.
Concept Exam-ready definition
European Council EU institution consisting of the heads of state or government of
the member states, together with its President and the
Commission President. It defines the EU’s general political
direction and priorities, but does not normally adopt EU
legislation.
Subsidiarity Principle that decisions should be taken as closely to citizens as
possible. In areas without exclusive EU competence, the EU
should act only when objectives cannot be sufficiently achieved
by member states and can be better achieved at EU level.
Treaty of Lisbon EU treaty that entered into force in 2009 and reformed EU
institutions and decision-making. It strengthened the European
Parliament, expanded qualified-majority voting, gave the EU a
single legal personality, and increased the efficiency and
democratic legitimacy of the EU.
Maastricht Treaty Treaty signed in 1992 that formally created the European Union. It
laid the foundations for Economic and Monetary Union and the
euro, introduced EU citizenship, and expanded European
cooperation beyond mainly economic matters.
Stability and EU framework for coordinating and monitoring member states’
Growth Pact fiscal policies and maintaining sound public finances. Traditionally,
(SGP) it applied the reference values of a government deficit of 3% of
GDP and public debt of 60% of GDP, with preventive and
corrective procedures.
Four Freedoms The foundation of the EU Single Market: free movement of goods,
services, capital and personsbetween member states. They aim
to remove barriers to cross-border economic activity and allow
people and businesses to operate throughout the EU.
Single European Treaty signed in 1986 that aimed to complete the internal market
Act (SEA) by 1992. It expanded the use of qualified-majority voting, making
it easier to adopt legislation removing remaining physical, technical
and fiscal barriers between member states.
Single European The EU’s integrated economic area based on the four freedoms:
Market goods, services, capital and persons. It removes internal barriers
