A-Z of Europe

A - Amsterdam Treaty: treaty signed in 1997 in Amsterdam which began to pave the way for EU enlargement.

B - British Chevening Scholarships: prestigious awards enabling exceptional overseas graduates and young professionals to undertake postgraduate studies and research in the UK.

C - COMENIUS: EU programme supporting the European dimension in the curriculum of schools and colleges.

D - Directive: an EU legislative act that allows each EU member country to use their own national laws to implement them. Seen as more flexible than an EU regulation.

E - European Youth Portal: this website contains links to websites in 30 European countries and focuses on working, studying, volunteering and living in Europe and also has information on active citizenship.

F - Funding: Many people think Europe has funding for you to do whatever you want. Not true. With most funding there are criterias to meet and objectives to reach. Same goes for European funding. There could be something out there for you - just ask.

G - GRUNDTVIG: EU programme supporting the mobility of individuals in adult education.

H - Health Insurance Card: the European Health Insurance Card makes it easier to obtain medical treatment whilst staying temporarily in another EU member state and replaces the E111 form used by tourists.

I - IGC: Intergovernmental Conference: a conference that takes place between the governments of EU member states.

J - Jean Monnet: regarded as one of the main founders of the European Union.

K - Kangaroo Group: A cross-party group of MEPs dedicated to the removal of non-tariff trade barriers within the EC.

L - Lifelong Learning programme: EU programme aimed at supporting schools, higher education, vocational training and adult education.

M - Maastricht Treaty: this treaty renamed the European Community the European Union and gave its citizens the right to move and live in any EU country and vote in the European and local elections of that country.

N - non-workers: all European citizens have the right of residence in another EU member state even if they are no longer working, are a pensioner or student.

O - Ombudsman: European citizens can complain to the European ombudsman about maladministration in the Community institutions and bodies.

P - Presidency: each EU member state takes turns in running the Presidency of the Council of Ministers for six months.

Q -QMV: Qualified Majority Voting - a system of weighted votes most commonly used in the decision-making process of the EU.

R - Regulation: an EU legislative act which comes into force as law simultaneously in all member states and overrides their national laws.

S - Study Visits: an Action from the Youth Programme which allows youth workers to be funded to observe youth work practice in anther European country

T - Treaty of Rome: treaty signed in 1957 by the original six member states establishing the EEC (European Economic Community).

U - Unanimity: a system of voting used less commonly in the decision-making process of the EU requiring agreement of the entire Council of Ministers to pass proposals.  EU member states can use their veto to block proposals.

V - Vulcanus programme: EU programme providing EU students with industrial placements in Japan.

W - Work abroad: European citizens have the right to work in any other EU country without the need for a work permit.

X - Xenophobia. 2007 is the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All. This campaign aims to encourage and enable young people to participate in building peaceful societies based on human rights, combating xenophobia  

Y - Youth In Action: this EU programme aims to foster a sense of European citizenship among young people in Europe by supporting exchanges, voluntary service and youth initiatives.

Z - Zollverein: The best known 19th century customs union, under which most German states progressively adopted the external Prussian tariff in exchange for the elimination of internal trade barriers. In this way Prussia came to dominate what was to become Germany, replacing Austria as the main centre of power in the German-speaking world.