Glossary of key EU policy terms

Call for evidence: a public consultation in which the European Commission invites all interested parties to provide feedback and empirical evidence on a politically sensitive and/or important new law or policy, or to evaluate the benefits, unintended effects, consistency and coherence of an existing law or policy. A Call for evidence describes the problem to be tackled and objectives to be met, explains why EU action is needed, outlines policy options and describes the main features of the consultation strategy. 

Civil dialogue: a concept enshrined in Article 11 of the Treaty on European Union, which states that the institutions should give citizens and representative associations the opportunity to make known and publicly exchange their views in all areas of Union action and to maintain an open, transparent and regular dialogue with them.

Common provisions regulation (CPR): a piece of over-arching legislation that applies to 8 EU funding programmes that are jointly delivered with member states and regions (including the European Regional Development Fund, ESF+, the Cohesion Fund, and the Just Transition Fund). It outlines rules that must be followed for the use of funds and the criteria by which projects must adhere to be eligible for EU funding. 

Communication: a non-binding document issued by the Commission to evaluate and clarify current policies, to identify problems in a certain policy area or to give public notice of concrete measures taken such as the execution of (action)programmes, affairs concerning the internal organisation or technical measures.  The Commission can refer communications to the Council of Ministers, the European Parliament, and other relevant EU institutions.  
Directive: a legislative act that sets out a goal that all EU countries must achieve. However, it is up to the individual countries to devise their own national laws to implement it and reach these goals (see Transposition). 
European Semester: the European Union’s framework for the coordination and surveillance of economic, fiscal, labour and social policies. The cycles lasts 6 months, during which Member States align their budgetary and economic policies with the rules agreed at EU level. Following the proclamation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, the European Semester also provides a framework for coordinating and monitoring national efforts in delivering on it. 
Flagship initiatives: long-term and large-scale initiatives addressing the major challenges faced by the EU and paving the way with an ambitious vision. They can exist on their own or be part of larger EU Strategies. For example, the EU Disability Strategy included 7 flagship initiatives to be implemented between 2021 and 2024.  
Hearing: organised by the committees of the European Parliament to hear from experts and hold discussions on the key issues or a particular subject. 
Parliamentary report: reports are adopted by parliamentary committees on a proposal from a rapporteur appointed by the committee responsible. They contain motions for resolutions which are examined in plenary and can be adopted there.
Presidency of the Council of the EU: the Council has a rotating Presidency that changes every 6 months. Member States holding the presidency work together closely in groups of three, called 'trios'. The trio sets long-term goals and prepares a common agenda determining the topics and major issues that will be addressed by the Council over an 18-month period. On the basis of this programme, each of the three countries prepares its own more detailed 6-month programme. 
Recommendation: not binding, it is issues by an EU institution (e.g. the Commission) to  make its views known and to suggest a line of action without imposing any legal obligation on those to whom it is addressed. 

Regulation: a binding legislative act that must be applied in its entirety across the EU. 

Strategic dialogue: an opportunity where the European Commission meets relevant partners and stakeholders to discuss issues of common interest and concern in a specific sector or policy area, exchange views on strategic priorities, review challenges and opportunities and explore ways to reinforce cooperation. 
Subsidiarity: the principle of subsidiarity serves to regulate the exercise of the Union’s non-exclusive powers. It rules out Union intervention when an issue can be dealt with effectively by Member States themselves at central, regional or local level. The Union is justified in exercising its powers only when Member States are unable to achieve the objectives of a proposed action satisfactorily and added value can be provided if the action is carried out at Union level.
Transposition: the process of incorporating EU directives into the national laws of EU Member States. Directives are not directly applicable throughout Member States but require national laws to incorporate their rules into national legislation. The Member States must adopt these national measures by a deadline, which is specified in the directive, and must notify their measures to the European Commission.