MATSEC SEC European Studies flashcards

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

United in diversity

EU motto used since 2000; it states that European integration respects the Union's diverse cultures, languages and traditions while promoting shared values.

European Capital of Culture

Title held by selected cities for one year since 1985; it highlights cultural heritage and regeneration, and Valletta held the title in 2018.

Creative Europe

EU funding programme for 2021-2027 supporting cultural, creative and audiovisual sectors; its budget is about €2.44 billion and it encourages cross-border cooperation.

European Heritage Label

Awarded since 2013 to sites with symbolic value for European integration and shared history; it is separate from UNESCO World Heritage status.

EU official languages

Currently 24, including Maltese and Irish; treaty texts are equally authentic in each, while English, French and German dominate internal working practice.

Europe Day

Marked on 9 May to commemorate the 1950 Schuman Declaration, which proposed pooling coal and steel as a step toward European integration.

Treaty of Paris 1951

Established the European Coal and Steel Community among six states; it entered into force in 1952 and expired in 2002.

Treaties of Rome 1957

Created the European Economic Community and Euratom; they entered into force in 1958, with the EEC aiming at a common market and customs union.

Single European Act

1986 treaty, in force 1987, that set the 1992 deadline for completing the single market and extended qualified majority voting and Parliament's powers.

Maastricht Treaty

1992 treaty, in force 1993, that created the European Union, introduced EU citizenship and the three-pillar structure, and set the economic and monetary union timetable.

Lisbon Treaty

2007 treaty, in force 2009, that abolished the pillars, made the Charter of Fundamental Rights binding and created the permanent European Council president and High Representative.

Schengen area

Passport-free travel zone begun by the 1985 agreement and implemented from 1995; it includes most EU states plus some non-EU states, but not Ireland or Cyprus.

Croatia EU accession

Croatia joined the EU on 1 July 2013 as the 28th member; it adopted the euro and joined the Schengen area in January 2023.

European Commission

EU executive with one commissioner per member state; it proposes most legislation, enforces treaties, manages the budget and represents the EU in trade negotiations.

Council of the European Union

Ministers from member states, organised by policy area; it co-legislates with Parliament, coordinates policies and usually decides by qualified majority.

European Council

Heads of state or government, its own president and the Commission president; it sets political direction but does not exercise ordinary legislative functions under Article 15 TEU.

Qualified majority voting

Default Council voting for most legislation: at least 55% of member states (15 of 27) representing at least 65% of the EU population; a blocking minority needs four states.

Ordinary legislative procedure

Commission proposal examined by Parliament and Council; both must agree, with conciliation if positions differ; formerly called co-decision and now the default law-making procedure.

European Parliament

Directly elected EU legislature with 720 MEPs since 2024; it shares legislative and budgetary power, elects the Commission president and can censure the Commission.

Court of Justice of the EU

Luxembourg-based court with one judge per member state and eleven advocates general; it interprets EU law, while the General Court handles many actions by individuals and companies.

Malta EU accession

Malta joined the EU on 1 May 2004 in the fifth enlargement, after a consultative referendum on 8 March 2003 approved membership.

Malta euro adoption

Malta adopted the euro on 1 January 2008, replacing the Maltese lira, after meeting the Maastricht convergence criteria on inflation, deficit, debt and exchange rates.

Malta Schengen accession

Malta joined the Schengen area on 21 December 2007; internal border checks with other Schengen states were removed, while external border controls remained.

Maltese EU language

Maltese became an official EU language when Malta joined in 2004; it is one of the Union's 24 official languages and treaty texts are authentic in Maltese.

Malta Council presidency

Malta held the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU from January to June 2017, chairing meetings and setting priorities for that six-month term.

Malta MEPs

Malta elects six members of the European Parliament by single transferable vote in one national constituency; the most recent European election was held on 8 June 2024.

EU citizenship

Held by every national of an EU member state; it adds free movement, electoral, consular and petition rights but does not replace national citizenship.

European Citizens' Initiative

Tool allowing one million EU citizens from at least seven member states to invite the Commission to propose legislation; the Commission must examine it and respond.

Free movement directive

Directive 2004/38/EC; EU citizens may reside over three months in another state if working, studying, self-sufficient or accompanied by qualifying family members.

Charter of Fundamental Rights

EU bill of rights made legally binding by the Lisbon Treaty; it applies to EU institutions and to member states when they implement EU law.

European Green Deal

2019 EU strategy aiming at climate neutrality by 2050; the European Climate Law sets a 2030 target of at least 55% net greenhouse-gas reduction versus 1990.

NextGenerationEU

Temporary recovery instrument of about €806.9 billion in current prices; it provides grants and loans through the Recovery and Resilience Facility and other EU programmes.