Terms Politics and Government in the EU
Acquis communautaire Body of the European Union law. Legislation, legal acts and court
decisions. Also in Copenhagen Criteria, that a state must adopt.
Buitenen, Paul van Dutch bureaucrat, financial controller. Found a fraud that made
the Commission fall and wrote a book: Strijd voor Europa.
Political group: Europe Transparent, joined Green Party for
greater leverage.
Comitology A set of procedures through which EU countries control how the
European Commission implements law. The Commission must
consult a committee, where all member states are represented.
Since Lisbon Treaty: advisory procedure and examination
procedure.
Commission Formal initiator of legislative drafts and of the budget. Guardian
of the treaties. Key actor in international relations, including
trade negotiations. Traditionally seen as the supranational voice
of the collective interest in EU legislation. Executive branch of
the Union.
Constitutionalisation and ECJ European Court of Justice interprets EU law and ensures it is
equally applied in all member states. One judge per member
state. Judges are supported by Advocates-General, that provide
an opinion on the presented cases on forehand.
Constitutionalisation refers to the attempt for the European
Constitutional Treaty.
Copenhagen criteria Criteria that define if a country is eligible for the European
Union. Political (stable institutions, democracy, rule of law,
human rights, protection of minorities), economic (functioning
market economy, cope with competitive pressures in the single
market) and legislative (acquis communautaire, take on
obligations of membership).
Council of Europe 47 member states. International organization to uphold human
rights, democracy and the rule of law in Europe. Distinct from
the European Union. Cannot make binding laws.
Council of Ministers One of the EU’s two legislative chambers, the other being the
European Parliament.
Council of the European Union Half-year term presidencies. Members are government ministers
from each EU country, according to the policy area to be
discussed. Adopt EU laws and coordinate EU policies. Together
with the Parliament, the main legislative body.
Cresson, Edith French prime minister (only woman). European Commissioner
for Research, Science and Technology. Career ended in
corruption charges. Commission fell due to findings of Paul van
Buitenen. Socialist Party.
Decision Part of EU legislation. Addressed to any or all Member States,
undertakings and individuals.
Deepening/widening 2 schools of thought as to how the European Union should
develop. Deepening refers to an ever closer union and increased
integration in the Union. Widening refers to expansion in terms
of membership but that this membership should be looser than
when deepening.
Delors, Jaques President of the Commission during SEA and EMU. 2
Acquis communautaire Body of the European Union law. Legislation, legal acts and court
decisions. Also in Copenhagen Criteria, that a state must adopt.
Buitenen, Paul van Dutch bureaucrat, financial controller. Found a fraud that made
the Commission fall and wrote a book: Strijd voor Europa.
Political group: Europe Transparent, joined Green Party for
greater leverage.
Comitology A set of procedures through which EU countries control how the
European Commission implements law. The Commission must
consult a committee, where all member states are represented.
Since Lisbon Treaty: advisory procedure and examination
procedure.
Commission Formal initiator of legislative drafts and of the budget. Guardian
of the treaties. Key actor in international relations, including
trade negotiations. Traditionally seen as the supranational voice
of the collective interest in EU legislation. Executive branch of
the Union.
Constitutionalisation and ECJ European Court of Justice interprets EU law and ensures it is
equally applied in all member states. One judge per member
state. Judges are supported by Advocates-General, that provide
an opinion on the presented cases on forehand.
Constitutionalisation refers to the attempt for the European
Constitutional Treaty.
Copenhagen criteria Criteria that define if a country is eligible for the European
Union. Political (stable institutions, democracy, rule of law,
human rights, protection of minorities), economic (functioning
market economy, cope with competitive pressures in the single
market) and legislative (acquis communautaire, take on
obligations of membership).
Council of Europe 47 member states. International organization to uphold human
rights, democracy and the rule of law in Europe. Distinct from
the European Union. Cannot make binding laws.
Council of Ministers One of the EU’s two legislative chambers, the other being the
European Parliament.
Council of the European Union Half-year term presidencies. Members are government ministers
from each EU country, according to the policy area to be
discussed. Adopt EU laws and coordinate EU policies. Together
with the Parliament, the main legislative body.
Cresson, Edith French prime minister (only woman). European Commissioner
for Research, Science and Technology. Career ended in
corruption charges. Commission fell due to findings of Paul van
Buitenen. Socialist Party.
Decision Part of EU legislation. Addressed to any or all Member States,
undertakings and individuals.
Deepening/widening 2 schools of thought as to how the European Union should
develop. Deepening refers to an ever closer union and increased
integration in the Union. Widening refers to expansion in terms
of membership but that this membership should be looser than
when deepening.
Delors, Jaques President of the Commission during SEA and EMU. 2
