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Source: http://europa.eu.int/scadplus/leg/en/cig/g4000.htm

Decision: Decisione.
With the entry into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam, new instruments have replaced joint actions. More binding and more authoritative, they should serve to make action under the reorganised third pillar more effective. Framework decisions are used to align the laws and regulations of the Member States. They are binding on the Member States as to the result to be achieved but leave the choice of form and methods to the national authorities. Decisions are used for any other purpose. They are binding and any measures required to implement them at Union level are adopted by the Council acting by a qualified majority.

Declaration: Dichiarazione.
A statement of intention by Member States contained within a EU treaty. Of lesser status than a Protocol, it has limited judicial force.

Democratic Deficit: Deficit democratico.
The claim that there is a lack of proper democratic and parliamentary supervision and accountability in EU decision-making procedures.

Deregulation: Deregolamentazione.
The ending of unnecessary economic rules or governmental practice through measures intended to remove all restrictions to trade within the EU.

Derogation: Deroga.
The exemption of one or more Member States from the provisions of EU legislation.

Direct Elections: Elezioni dirette.
Since 1979 held at five-yearly intervals for the European Parliament (EP). Each Member State is free to decide upon its own electoral system.

Directives: Direttive.
EC decisions which are binding upon the EC institutions and the Member States, but as general instructions on the goal to be achieved. The way in which the goal is to be attained is left to the discretion of each Member State.

Discrimination: Discriminazione.
The application of restrictive trade practices by one Member State against the goods and companies of other Member States.

Double majority: Doppia maggioranza.
In the light of enlargement, solutions have been put forward for maintaining the current balance between "large" countries and "small" countries in Council decision-making. Requiring a majority both of the Member States and of the population of the Union to be in favour before any decision can be taken in the Council would be a way of avoiding what some see as the over-representation of the smaller countries. A suggested that the qualified-majority threshold (currently about 70% of Member State votes) could be maintained, but Member States voting in favour would have to represent three fifths of the total population. The thresholds for this double majority could vary depending on the subject.

EC: Comunità Europea.
The European Community, an earlier term now replaced by EU (European Union); not to be confused with the European Commission, the executive branch of the EU.

Economic and Social Committee: Comitato Economico e sociale.
It was set up by the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community in 1957 to represent the interests of the various economic and social groups. It consists of 222 members falling into three categories: employers, workers and representatives of particular types of activity. Members are appointed for four years by unanimous Council decision and this term may be renewed.

Education Policy: Politica dell'istruzione.
First recognised as a policy competence by the Treaty on European Union. It has largely been limited to stressing the need for closer collaboration and mutual understanding, and has taken the form of recommendations rather than binding legislation.

Education, Vocational Training and Youth: Istruzione, formazione professionale e gioventù.
Since 1995 there have been three main education and vocational training programmes: SOCRATES, LEONARDO, and YOUTH FOR EUROPE III. Socrates encourages student mobility, and to that end, co-operation between universities (Erasmus programme), schools and in language learning (Comenius programme). Socrates also encourages the development of networks with a view to the recognition of qualifications, the provision of information in the field of Education (Eurydice) and the exchange of experience between decision-makers in the field of education (Arion). Leonardo promotes access to vocational training by improving national vocational training systems and encouraging innovation and life-long learning. Youth for Europe III facilitates the mobility of less privileged young people outside education structures in order to give them access to local projects which complement their training.

EEA: Area Economica Europea.
The European Economic Area (EEA) is an 18 nation organisation made up of the EU and EFTA countries.

EEC: Comunità Economica Europea.
European Economic Community, an earlier term now replaced by EU.

EFTA: Area Europea di Libero Commercio.
European Free Trade Area, four western European nations. These are: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Employment: Occupazione.
It is one of the key concerns of the Member States. There are five priority areas for action to promote employment: improving employment opportunities by promoting investment in vocational training; increasing the employment rate; reducing non-wage labour costs; increasing the effectiveness of labour-market policies; improving help for groups which are particularly hard hit by unemployment.

EMU (Economic and Monetary Union): Unione Economica e Monetaria.
It is meant to the introduction of a single currency. EMU is to be achieved in three stages. First stage free: movement of capital between Member States, closer co-ordination of economic policies and closer co-operation between central banks; Second stage: convergence of the economic and monetary policies of the Member States; Third stage: establishment of a European Central Bank, fixing of exchange rates and introduction of a single currency. Eleven Member States are participating in the third stage of EMU that began on 1 January 1999. Four Member States have not adopted the single currency.

EN: Standard europeo.
European Standard (Euro-Norm), a technical document written by CEN (European Committee for Standardization) or CENELEC (European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization), responsible for preparing European technical standards across a wide range of products, processes and appliances.

Enlargement: Allargamento.
It was originally the term used to refer to the four successive waves of new members joining the Community. Nine countries have so far joined the six founder members - Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands - at the following times:1973: Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom; 1981: Greece; 1986: Portugal and Spain; 1995: Austria, Finland and Sweden. With the growing number of applicants for membership the concept of enlargement has taken on a different meaning.

Environment: Ambiente.
The aim of Community environment policy is to preserve, protect and improve the quality of the environment and to protect people's health. It also sets great store by the prudent and rational use of natural resources. Lastly, it seeks to promote measures at international level to deal with regional or world wide environmental problems.

Equal opportunities: Pari opportunità.
Two key elements of the general principle of equal opportunities are the ban on discrimination on grounds of nationality and equal pay for men and women. It is intended to apply to all fields, particularly economic, social, cultural and family life. The Treaty of Amsterdam added a new Article to the Treaty, reinforcing the principle of non-discrimination, which is closely linked to equal opportunities. Under this new Article, the Council has the power to take appropriate action to combat discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation.

EU: Unione Europea.
Formerly known as the European Economic Community (EEC), and later shortened to European Community (EC), the European Union (EU) is a group of 15 European nations that have established a single market area.

Europe agreement: Accordo Europeo.
It is a specific type of association agreement concluded between the European Union and certain Central and Eastern European states. Its aim is to prepare the associated state for accession to the European Union, and is based on respect of human rights, democracy, the rule of law and the market economy. To date, Europe agreements have been concluded with ten countries: Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.

European Anthem: Inno Europeo.
The words of Schiller's 'Ode to Joy' as set to music in the final movement of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, and played on ceremonial occasions.

European Central Bank (ECB): Banca Centrale Europea.
The body to come into existence between 1997 and 1999 with the third stage of Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), with powers to issue the European Currency Unit (ECU) and control monetary policy.

European Commission: Commissione Europea.
It is a body with powers of initiative, implementation, management and control. It is the guardian of the Treaties and the embodiment of the interests of the Community. It is composed of twenty independent members (two each from France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom and one each from all the other countries), including a President and two Vice-Presidents. It is appointed for a five-year term, by agreement among the Member States, and is subject to a vote of appointment by the European Parliament, to which it is answerable, before it can be sworn in. The Commissioners are assisted by an administration made up of directorates-general and specialised departments whose staff are divided mainly between Brussels and Luxembourg.

European Council: Consiglio Europeo.
It is the term used to describe the regular meetings of the Heads of State or Government of the European Union Member States. It first met in. Its existence was given legal recognition by the Single European Act, while official status was conferred on it by the Treaty on European Union. It meets at least twice a year and the President of the European Commission attends as a full member. Its objectives are to give the European Union the impetus it needs in order to develop further and to define general policy guidelines.

Euro-sceptics: Euroscettici.
A phrase describing those people who oppose attempts to increase the degree of political integration.

Expenditure: Uscite.
Budget resources expected to fund the several EU policies as well as EU running and administrative costs. The largest element is on agriculture.

Financial perspective 2000-2006: Prospettive finanziarie 2000-2006.
The financial perspective forms the framework for Community expenditure over a period of several years. It is the product of an inter-institutional agreement between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission and indicates the maximum volume and the composition of the foreseeable Community expenditure. It is adjusted annually by the Commission to take account of prices and the development of Community GNP (Gross National Product).

Founding Treaties: Trattati fondatori.
The original treaty documents that established the EU.

Free movement of persons: Libertà di circolazione delle persone.
(Visas, asylum, immigration and other policies). The Treaty of Amsterdam has written a new Title IV into the EU Treaty. It covers the following fields: free movement of persons; controls on external borders; asylum, immigration and safeguarding of the rights of third-country nationals; judicial co-operation in civil matters.

Freedom of movement: Libertà di circolazione.
A fundamental objective of the EU, relating to people, goods, services and capital, and reconfirmed in the Treaty on European Union.

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