college of europe

Ordinary Legislative Procedure (OLP)

The main way the EU makes laws. The European Parliament and the Council of the EU must agree on a proposal made by the European Commission.

Democratic Deficit

The idea that the EU is too complex and far from its citizens, and that its institutions lack democratic accountability.

Article 7 of the TEU

The "nuclear option". A procedure to suspend certain rights of an EU member state (like voting) if it seriously breaks EU core values, such as the Rule of Law.

Qualified Majority Voting (QMV)

A voting rule in the Council. To pass, a decision needs 55% of member states (15 out of 27) representing at least 65% of the total EU population.

Neofunctionalism

A classic theory of EU integration. It argues that cooperation in one economic area creates a "spillover effect," forcing cooperation in other political areas.

Intergovernmentalism

A theory arguing that EU integration is strictly controlled by the member states, who only cooperate when it serves their national interests.

Constructivism in EU Studies

A theory arguing that European integration is driven by shared ideas, discourse, and the creation of a common European identity, rather than just material interests.

Spitzenkandidat Process

The "lead candidate" system. European political groups choose a candidate for President of the European Commission before the EU elections.

The Trilogue

Informal, closed

Open Method of Coordination (OMC)

A soft law process where member states evaluate each other's policies (peer review) and share best practices without making binding EU laws.

Subsidiarity Principle

The rule that the EU should only act when an objective cannot be sufficiently achieved by the member states at the national or local level.

The Strategic Compass

The EU's official action plan for security and defense, aiming to make the EU a stronger and more autonomous global security provider by 2030.

European Council vs. Council of the EU

The European Council (Heads of State) sets the general political direction. The Council of the EU (national ministers) actually negotiates and passes laws.

Copenhagen Criteria

The political, economic, and administrative rules that a candidate country must respect before joining the European Union.

European Commission

The EU's executive body, responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, and upholding the EU treaties.

European Parliament

The directly elected legislative body of the EU, which shares power over the budget and legislation with the Council of the EU.

European Council

The institution comprising the heads of state or government of EU member states, which defines the EU's overall political direction and priorities.

Council of the European Union

The institution where national ministers from each EU country meet to adopt laws and coordinate policies.

Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU)

The supreme legal authority of the EU, ensuring that EU law is interpreted and applied the same way in every EU country.

European Central Bank (ECB)

The central bank for the euro, responsible for monetary policy and maintaining price stability within the Eurozone.

European Court of Auditors (ECA)

The EU institution that audits EU finances to ensure that funds are correctly accounted for and spent according to the rules.

High Representative of the Union

The chief coordinator and representative of the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP).

COREPER

The Committee of Permanent Representatives, responsible for preparing the work of the Council of the European Union.

EEAS (European External Action Service)

The diplomatic service and combined foreign and defense ministry of the European Union.

Ordinary Legislative Procedure (OLP)

The standard decision

Special Legislative Procedure

Legislative procedures where the Council is the sole legislator, and the Parliament is only consulted or gives consent.

Right of Initiative

The exclusive power of the European Commission to propose new EU laws.

Directive

A legislative act that sets out a goal that all EU countries must achieve, but leaves it up to the individual countries to devise their own laws on how to reach these goals.

Regulation

A binding legislative act that must be applied in its entirety across the EU from the moment it enters into force.

Decision

A binding legal act that only applies to the specific entities to which it is addressed (e.g., an EU country or an individual company).

Principle of Proportionality

An EU rule stating that the involvement of the institutions must be limited to what is necessary to achieve the objectives of the Treaties.

Principle of Subsidiarity

The principle that the EU should only act if the objectives cannot be sufficiently achieved by the member states.

Supremacy of EU Law

The principle that EU law takes precedence over conflicting national laws of member states.

Direct Effect

A principle allowing individuals to immediately invoke a European provision before a national or European court.

Neofunctionalism

A theory of European integration focusing on "spillover," where cooperation in one sector creates pressure for integration in others.

Liberal Intergovernmentalism

A theory asserting that national governments are the primary actors in EU integration, driven by domestic economic interests.

Constructivism

An approach arguing that European integration is shaped by shared norms, discourse, and the social construction of a European identity.

Multi

level Governance

Europeanization

The process by which domestic policies, political dynamics, and institutional structures are shaped by EU integration.

Democratic Deficit

The criticism that the EU institutions lack democratic legitimacy and are too distant from ordinary citizens.

Article 7 TEU

The procedure designed to suspend certain rights from a member state that persistently breaches the EU's founding values (Rule of Law).

Spitzenkandidat

The "lead candidate" process where European political parties nominate a candidate for Commission President ahead of European elections.

Qualified Majority Voting (QMV)

A voting method in the Council requiring 55% of member states representing 65% of the EU population to pass a measure.

Unanimity

A voting rule in the Council requiring all member states to agree, typically used for sensitive areas like taxation and foreign policy.

The Trilogue

Informal tripartite meetings between the Parliament, Council, and Commission to negotiate a swift compromise on legislative proposals.

Open Method of Coordination (OMC)

A voluntary, non

Schengen Area

A zone comprising 29 European countries that have officially abolished all passport and all other types of border control at their mutual borders.

Eurozone

The monetary union of 20 member states of the EU that have adopted the euro as their primary currency and sole legal tender.

Enlargement Policy

The process and rules by which countries join the EU, governed by Article 49 of the TEU.

Copenhagen Criteria

The political, economic, and institutional requirements that a candidate country must meet to join the EU.

Neighborhood Policy (ENP)

The EU's foreign relations framework aiming to foster stability, security, and prosperity with countries to its East and South.

Strategic Compass

The EU's ambitious plan of action for strengthening the EU's security and defense policy by 2030.

Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)

The agreed foreign policy of the EU for mainly security and defense diplomacy and actions.

CSDP (Common Security and Defence Policy)

The EU's course of action in the fields of defense and crisis management, a major component of the CFSP.

Green Deal

A set of policy initiatives by the European Commission with the overarching aim of making the EU climate neutral in 2050.

NextGenerationEU

The EU's temporary recovery instrument designed to support the economic recovery from the COVID

Rule of Law Conditionality Mechanism

A tool allowing the EU to suspend budget payments to member states where rule of law breaches affect the EU's financial interests.

Differentiation (Multi

speed Europe)

Comitology

A set of procedures through which EU countries control how the European Commission implements EU law.

Sincere Cooperation

The obligation (Article 4.3 TEU) for the EU and its member states to assist each other in carrying out tasks derived from the Treaties.

European Citizens' Initiative (ECI)

A mechanism allowing 1 million EU citizens from at least seven member states to call on the Commission to propose legislation.

Competence (Exclusive, Shared, Supporting)

The division of powers detailing areas where only the EU can act, where both can act, or where the EU only supports member states.

Acquis Communautaire

The accumulated body of European Union law and obligations from 1958 to the present day.

Brexit

The withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, which officially took place on January 31, 2020.