EU terms made easy

Acquis Communautaire
The body of European Union Laws which every member stae has to abide to. Candidate countries had to negotiate special concessions to adpat these laws to their specific needs.

CAP
Common Agricultural Policy, the policy adopted by the European Union for the agricultral sector to ensure stability in this industry.

Chapters
The Acquis Communautaire, the EU body of legislation, is organised into theme-based sections called "chapters". There are 30 chapters in all.

Charter of Fundamental Rights
The charter recognises a number of rights - such as freedom of speech and fair working conditions - but will not be incorporated into European law.

Closer co-operation
Also known as reinforced or enhanced co-operation, it allows some countries to forge ahead on certain issues, giving rise to fears of a 'two-speed' Europe.

Convention on the Future of Europe
Twenty seven countries and the EU institutions are meeting in a "European Convention" to discuss the Future of Europe, especially in the light of EU enlargement in 2004. Malta is taking part with representatives of the Maltese Government and the political parties.

Council of Ministers
The council directly represents the EU's member governments in a "cabinet of cabinets". Every member state becomes president of the Council for six months on a rotational basis.

Derogation
When a members state is exempted from implementing particular legislation from the Acquis Communautaire. This exemption is negotiated before the accession of a candidate country and has to be approved by the other EU member states.

Enlargement
The accession of new countries to the EU. Thirteen countries (if we include Turkey) are negotiating their membership of the EU. Ten, including Malta are expected to join in May 2004.

Euro
The single currency used in 12 out of 15 members states of the EU. Britain, Denmark and Sweden have not yet adopted it. New members will adopt it within a few years of their accession.

European Central Bank
The European Central Bank is responsible for the launch of the euro and European monetary policy.

European Commission
The executive body of the EU consists of 20 commissioners and is the driving force behind new legislation. Each member state has one commissioner responsible for a particular sector.

European Court of Auditors
The court is the "financial conscience" of the European Union, tracking the management of EU money.

European Court of Justice
The judicial institution of the EU, founded in 1952, its job is to monitor the even interpretation of European law across the union.

European Parliament
The parliament is the only directly elected body in the European Union and the only elected international assembly in the world. So far it only has consultative powers. MEPs are elected at national level in member states.

European Union
An association of European countries who share standards and administrative structures to promote European integration while respecting the independence and sovereignty of member states.

IGC
An Intergovernmental Conference is a long-running conference between the governments of EU countries.

Member states
There are currently 15 member states, which joined from 1957 onwards. Another 10 states, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Cyprus and Malta are expected to join in the 1st May 2004.

MEUSAC
The Malta-EU Steering and Action Committee (MEUSAC) was set up to oversee the overall accession process, thus rendering it a focal point of Malta's accession preparations. Draft position papers for Malta's negotiating stand were passed to MEUSAC. MEUSAC discussed each chapter of the acquis communautaire prior to the negotiation of that chapter. Members of MEUSAC included constituted bodies.

MIC
The Malta - EU Information Centre (MIC) was set up to increase awareness and education on the European Union and on the accession process. In particular, it has the task of disseminating information on the European Union in general; the ongoing accession process; the impact of EU accession and the outcome of accession negotiations.

NPAA
As part of the accession preparations, the Government has prepared a document known as the National Programme for the Adoption of the Acquis (NPAA). This document outlines the strategy adopted by Malta with regard to each EU policy area. It also presents a timetable for Malta's proposed short and medium term objective to meet the obligations of EU membership by the target date of 1 January 2003, which is Malta's target date for preparedness for EU membership. Measures on which negotiating requests are made would, of course, go beyond this date.

Package
The result of the negotiations between Malta and the EU is referred to as "the package".

Partnership
The Malta Labour Party is proposing a special agreement, or "partnership" between Malta and the European Union instead of full membership. This agreement would cover major fields such as trade, taxation, defence, culture and education.

Presidency
The presidency of the Council of Ministers rotates every six months between the EU member states. Denmark was president between July and December 2002. Greece is president between January and June 2003.

Qualified majority voting
Most decisions in the EU are taken by majority voting - but enlargement means the system must be overhauled. See Unanimity.

Rapid reaction force
Steps are being taken to create a European force of 60,000 troops by 2003.

Referendum
Each candidate country will hold a referendum to check whether the majority of its citizens are in favour of their country joining the EU. The referendum is not binding in all countries, including Malta. While the Maltese Nationalist Government says it will bind by its result, the Opposition Labour Party insists that he will only stick to the result of a general election.

Screening
When a country applies to become a member of the EU, the screening process compares the country's legislation to the Acquis Communautaire. This then leads to negotiations for the adoption of the Acquis with the necessary changes requested by the candidate country.

Social Europe
The EU social agenda on employment and equality was adopted at the 2000 Nice summit.

Transition Period
A limited period of time when a member state prepares to impliment a specific law of the Acquis Communautaire like other member states.

Treaty of Rome
Signed in 1957, it is one of Europe's founding treaties and has been amended several times.

Unanimity
Unanimity is used in the Council of Ministers for decisions which are nationally sensitive like taxation, defence and social policy.

Veto
The veto is a way of keeping national sovereignty over sensitive areas of decision-making.

Sources: MaltaMedia, BBC On-line, Malta-EU Information Centre