EPSO EU Knowledge & Field-Related Test flashcards

33 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Ordinary legislative procedure

The default EU law-making procedure (Art. 294 TFEU) in which Parliament and Council act as co-legislators on a Commission proposal, with up to three readings and a conciliation committee.

Qualified majority voting

Council voting rule requiring at least 55% of member states (16 of 27) representing at least 65% of the EU population; a blocking minority needs at least four member states.

Constructive abstention

Under Art. 31(1) TEU a member state may abstain in a CFSP vote by making a formal declaration; the abstention does not block the decision but the state is not bound by it.

European Council President

Elected by the European Council by qualified majority for a renewable term of two and a half years; chairs its meetings and ensures external representation of the Union on CFSP matters.

Comitology examination procedure

The procedure under Regulation (EU) 182/2011 used by member-state committees to scrutinise Commission implementing acts; a negative opinion can require an appeal committee.

Direct effect of directives

A directive that is clear, precise and unconditional and whose deadline has passed can be invoked vertically against the state (Van Duyn) but not horizontally against private parties (Marshall).

Supremacy of EU law

Established in Costa v ENEL (1964): EU law prevails over conflicting national law, including constitutional provisions, and national courts must disapply the latter (Simmenthal).

Preliminary reference procedure

Art. 267 TFEU allows national courts to ask the CJEU about the interpretation or validity of EU law; courts of last instance must refer, subject to CILFIT exceptions.

Francovich state liability

Member states must compensate individuals for damage caused by serious breaches of EU law that confer rights, where a causal link exists between breach and damage.

Charter of Fundamental Rights

EU bill of rights with the same legal value as the Treaties (Art. 6(1) TEU); it binds EU institutions and member states only when they implement EU law (Art. 51).

Regulation versus directive

A regulation is directly applicable and binding in its entirety (Art. 288 TFEU); a directive binds member states as to the result to be achieved and requires national transposition.

Cassis de Dijon principle

A product lawfully marketed in one member state must in principle be admitted in another; national restrictions must be justified by mandatory requirements and be proportionate.

Article 101 TFEU

Prohibits agreements, decisions and concerted practices that restrict competition within the internal market, unless they are exempted under Art. 101(3) TFEU or a block exemption.

EU Merger Regulation thresholds

Regulation 139/2004 gives the Commission jurisdiction when combined worldwide turnover exceeds €5 billion and EU-wide turnover of at least two parties exceeds €250 million.

Polluter pays principle

Environmental principle in Art. 191(2) TFEU requiring those who cause pollution to bear the cost of prevention and remediation; it underpins the EU Emissions Trading System.

Digital Services Act

Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 imposing due-diligence and transparency duties on online intermediaries, with stricter obligations for very large online platforms and search engines.

European Climate Law

Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 makes climate neutrality by 2050 legally binding and sets a target of at least 55% net greenhouse-gas reduction by 2030 compared with 1990.

Social policy unanimity areas

Under Art. 153(2) TFEU social security and social protection of workers require unanimity in the Council, while most other social-policy directives are adopted by qualified majority.

Multiannual Financial Framework

Art. 312 TFEU instrument setting annual expenditure ceilings by heading for at least five years; adopted by unanimity in Council after Parliament's consent, currently for 2021-2027.

Own resources decision

Art. 311 TFEU decision on EU revenue sources (customs duties, VAT-based and GNI-based contributions, plastic contribution); requires unanimity and ratification by every member state.

Provisional twelfths rule

Under Art. 315 TFEU, if the annual budget is not adopted before the financial year begins, expenditure is limited to one twelfth of the previous year's appropriations per month.

Discharge procedure

Art. 319 TFEU procedure in which Parliament, on a Council recommendation, grants the Commission discharge for implementing the budget, closing the annual accountability cycle.

Statement of assurance

The Court of Auditors' annual DAS certifying the reliability of EU accounts and the legality and regularity of the underlying transactions, published in the Official Journal.

European Public Prosecutor's Office

Established by Council Regulation (EU) 2017/1939 under enhanced cooperation; it investigates and prosecutes crimes affecting the EU budget before national courts.

Rule of law conditionality

Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2092 allows the Council to suspend EU payments where breaches of the rule of law affect the sound financial management of the budget.

Common commercial policy

Art. 207 TFEU exclusive EU competence covering trade in goods and services, foreign direct investment and trade-related intellectual property; the Commission negotiates under a Council mandate.

Copenhagen criteria

The 1993 accession conditions: stable democratic institutions and rule of law, a functioning market economy, and capacity to take on the obligations of EU membership (the acquis).

Article 49 TEU

Legal basis for accession: any European state respecting the values of Art. 2 TEU may apply; the Council decides unanimously after consulting the Commission and Parliament's consent.

European Peace Facility

An off-budget instrument financed by member-state contributions outside the EU budget, used to finance military and defence-related actions under the CFSP.

Stability and Growth Pact

EU fiscal framework with reference values of 3% of GDP for government deficit and 60% of GDP for government debt, now implemented through country-specific net expenditure paths.

NIS2 Directive

Directive (EU) 2022/2555 harmonising cybersecurity risk management and incident-reporting obligations for essential and important entities across member states.

Materiality in audit

The threshold above which misstatements or omissions could influence users' economic decisions; auditors set it and design procedures to reduce audit risk to an acceptably low level.

Horizon Europe

Regulation (EU) 2021/695 establishing the EU research and innovation framework programme for 2021-2027, with a budget of about €95.5 billion and the European Research Council as a flagship.