English Style Guide

13 THE EUROPEAN UNION

13.1The European Union — EU. In geographical terms, the European Union comprises the combined territories of its Member States. Since the Treaty of Lisbon (see 14.15), it now has legal personality in its own right and absorbs what used to be known as the European Community/ies. Although it is often abbreviated to ‘Union’ in legislation (e.g. in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union), this practice should be avoided in other texts. Use either the full form or the abbreviation ‘EU’.

13.2The (European) Community/ies. Now absorbed by the European Union, so the name should no longer be used except in historical references. Use instead ‘the European Union’ or ‘EU’. For example, ‘Community policy/institutions/legislation’ should now read ‘European Union / EU /policy/institutions/legislation’. However, note that the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) continues to exist.

13.3Common, meaning EU, is still used in set phrases such as common fisheries policy, common agricultural (not agriculture) policy, etc. Do not use the term in this sense outside these set phrases.

13.4Common market. This term is normally used in EU documents only in phrases such as ‘the common market in goods and services’.

13.5Single market. This term is generally preferable to internal market (which has other connotations in the UK), except in standard phrases such as ‘completing the internal market’, which was originally the title of the key White Paper.

13.6The Twenty-seven (Twenty-five, Fifteen, Twelve, Ten, Nine, Six). These expressions are sometimes used to refer to different memberships of the European Union at different periods. In this context the only correct abbreviation is EU-27, 25, 15, 12, 10, 9 or 6 (not EUR-25 etc.) to avoid confusion with the euro.

13.7Acquis. The acquis (note the italics) is the body of EU law in the broad sense, comprising:

♦the Treaties and other instruments of similar status (primary legislation);

♦the legislation adopted under the Treaties (secondary legislation);

♦the case law of the Court of Justice;

♦the declarations and resolutions adopted by the Union;

♦measures relating to the common foreign and security policy;

♦measures relating to justice and home affairs;

♦international agreements concluded by the Union and those concluded by the Member States among themselves in connection with the Union’s activities.

9 March 2012

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