MEP
Member of the European ParliamentThere are 720 of them, elected directly by EU citizens every five years.
p. 08½Phrasebook · full edition
The full EU dictionary.
41 EU words, translated into human. Search, or pick a topic.
41 terms
European Parliament
The EU’s elected parliamentRepresents EU citizens. Together with the Council, it passes EU laws and the EU budget. Elected every five years.
Plenary session
When all MEPs meetThe big meeting where all MEPs debate and vote together. Most take place in Strasbourg.
Strasbourg
The Parliament’s official seatThe French city where the European Parliament holds 12 plenary weeks a year. Committees mostly meet in Brussels.
Political groups
Teams of MEPsMEPs sit together by political ideas, not by country. A group needs at least 23 MEPs from at least a quarter of EU countries.
European Commission
The EU’s executiveProposes new EU laws and checks that countries apply them. One Commissioner per EU country.
Council of the EU
aka “the Council”Ministers from each EU country. Together with the Parliament, it votes on new EU laws.
don’t mix these upCouncil presidency
Everyone gets a turnEach EU country chairs the Council of the EU for six months. Ireland has it until the end of 2026, then Lithuania, then Greece from July 2027.
European Council
The leaders’ summitThe heads of state or government of the EU countries. They set the EU’s overall direction, but they don’t pass laws.
don’t mix these upCouncil of Europe
Not part of the EU!A separate organisation of 46 countries focused on human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
don’t mix these upCourt of Justice of the EU
The EU’s top courtBased in Luxembourg. Makes sure EU law is understood and applied the same way in every EU country.
European Ombudsman
The EU’s complaints deskLooks into complaints about how EU institutions and bodies work. Free for anyone in the EU.
Regulation
Type of EU lawApplies directly in every EU country, word for word, as soon as it takes effect.
Directive
Type of EU lawSets a goal for all EU countries. Each country then writes its own law to reach it.
Ordinary legislative procedure
How most EU laws are madeThe Commission proposes a law, then the Parliament and the Council both have to agree on the same text.
Trilogue
The three-way talksInformal talks between the Parliament, the Council and the Commission to find a deal on a new law.
Rapporteur
The MEP in charge of a fileWrites the Parliament’s report on a proposal and leads the negotiations on it.
Qualified majority
How the Council votesAt least 55% of EU countries, representing at least 65% of the EU population, must agree.
Unanimity
Everyone has to say yesUsed for sensitive topics like taxes and foreign policy. If just one country says no, the decision is blocked: that’s a veto.
Subsidiarity
Decide as close to people as possibleThe EU only steps in when something works better at EU level than at national, regional or local level.
Infringement procedure
When a country breaks EU rulesThe Commission can take an EU country to the Court of Justice if it doesn’t apply EU law properly.
Acquis
The EU rulebookAll the EU laws, rules and court rulings built up over the years. Countries that want to join have to adopt it.
GDPR
The EU’s data protection lawSince 2018 it gives you control over your personal data: you can see it, correct it and often have it deleted.
Eurozone
The countries that use the euro21 EU countries share the euro. The newest member is Bulgaria, since January 2026.
European Central Bank
The euro’s central bankBased in Frankfurt. Sets interest rates for the euro and works to keep prices stable.
Single Market
One big marketPeople, goods, services and money move freely between EU countries, almost like inside one country.
MFF
The EU’s 7-year budgetThe Multiannual Financial Framework sets how much the EU can spend and on what, seven years at a time. The current one runs from 2021 to 2027.
NextGenerationEU
The recovery fundThe EU’s plan to help countries recover after COVID-19 and invest in green and digital projects. Each country has its own plan, like Greece 2.0 or Poland’s KPO.
Member state
An EU countryOne of the 27 countries that make up the EU.
Schengen area
Borderless travel zoneThe group of European countries with no passport checks at their shared borders.
Candidate country
On the way inA country officially working towards joining the EU. First it has to meet the EU’s standards on democracy, the economy and the rule of law.
Treaty of Lisbon
The treaty the EU runs on todayIn force since 2009. It gave the European Parliament more power and made the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights legally binding.
Article 50
The exit doorThe part of the EU treaties that explains how a country can leave. The UK used it and left in 2020.
Spitzenkandidat
The lead candidateGerman for “top candidate”: before the European elections, each European party names who it wants as President of the Commission.
European Citizens’ Initiative
1 million signaturesIf 1 million citizens from at least 7 EU countries sign a proposal, the Commission has to respond to it.
Erasmus+
The EU programme for education, youth and sportFunds studying and training abroad, youth exchanges, training courses for youth workers and much more.
Youth exchange
Meet, live and learn togetherA short Erasmus+ project (5 to 21 days) where young people aged 13 to 30 from different countries work on a shared topic.
Training course
Skills for people who work with youthA short Erasmus+ project, often about a week, where youth workers and active young people learn new skills, like non-formal education or inclusion.
European Solidarity Corps
Volunteer abroadAn EU programme for 18 to 30 year olds to volunteer in another country, from 2 weeks up to a year, with costs covered.
DiscoverEU
A free pass to explore EuropeIf you’re 18, you can apply for a free travel pass to explore Europe, mostly by train.
Youthpass
Your certificateThe certificate you get after Erasmus+ youth projects and the European Solidarity Corps. It shows what you learned.
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