Jargon and clear writing alternatives

Plain language alternatives

The main problem for anybody working in the EU environment is realising what counts as jargon. This includes staff in the institutions and writers in the private sector who tend to reuse the jargon from the EU source texts.

Working in the EU environment can make you jargon-blind. You might recognise e.g. ‘subsidiarity’ or ‘countervailing duties’ as technical jargon - but EU language is full of many less obvious jargon terms, influenced especially by legal/diplomatic terminology. For example, when did you last negotiate your accession to a gym or sports club, or go on holiday to a third country?

Additionally, in English - the original language of most web texts - there is the extra problem of false friends, mostly from French.

Find plain language alternatives to common EU jargon in our A-Z table of jargon and false friends below.

If there is no plain language alternative, then explain the jargon or technical term the first time you use it on the page.

A to Z – jargon and false friends

As a general principle use plain English when writing for the European Commission website. The following list provides alternatives for

Unclear names for EU‑related concepts

calls for proposals	Call for proposals is the proper term, but it might need more explanation depending on the target audience EU requests for (researchers, etc.) to propose projects for funding requests for project proposals from (researchers, etc.) call for funding (scored highest when tested with website users)
candidate country	prospective/aspiring/would-be members possible/likely/potential future member countries country that is an official candidate for EU membership countries that are candidates or potential candidates for EU membership (EU) membership candidate Technically: one step up from having the "prospect" (perspective) of EU membership, but not all candidates have opened formal negotiations. Some candidates then move on to formal membership (accession) negotiations / the formal pre-membership process of negotiation and reform (adopting established EU law). At the very least: EU candidate country (the shorthand form (without EU or country) is not informative.)
CAP / common agricultural policy	(Depending on context and target audience) EU farm policy / support / subsidies (Even the full term common agricultural policy is not widely known outside stakeholder circles. Only real experts for EU agricultural policy will know that term and search for it)
citizens	Bit of a false friend from French citoyen and overused in English texts. Calls to mind administrative procedures to become a citizen of another country. the general public individuals people nationals Europeans the person in the street society
Citizens’ Initiative	new European petitioning system. And/or explain what it is, e.g.: initiative allowing the public to petition the Commission directly on specific issues. Good to use the word petition somewhere, since this is essentially what it is.
civil society	Consider being more specific if possible. interest groups non‑governmental organisations non-profit organisations civil society organisations non-government institutions social organisations or groups Civil society organisations – non-governmental groups such as trade unions, employers’ associations and other social groups
cohesion	economic and social development [geographically] balanced (economic) development regional cohesion regional economic development social cohesion = fairness economic and social cohesion = fair economic and social opportunities for all Cohesion policy and regional policy are not the same thing (cohesion policy is wider because it also covers e.g. the European social fund)
cohesion fund(ing)	regional development/funding/policy/cohesion (The idea of regional socio-economic disparities is not expressed by cohesion on its own.)
College	(body or group of) Commissioners. The Commissioners acting as a group.
comitology (procedure)	committee procedure committees through which national authorities supervise Commission implementation of EU law, etc. system of national experts supervising the detailed technical aspects of implementing EU law, etc. The official term is now committee procedure, though comitology is still used frequently.
Commission	if necessary, add some explanation, e.g. the EU(‘s) executive (body), the European Commission
Committee of the Regions	needs explanation, e.g. the EU’s platform for regional interests, the Committee of the Regions body representing local and regional authorities across the EU
common	"Common" is over-used in Commission texts, due to the influence of French. In many cases, it is not the most apt term for what it is describing - other alternatives are clearer: EU-wide EU standard universal shared a (one) single (+ noun) joint(ly)
commonalities	shared or common aspects/themes/goals
common organisation of the market / CMO / common market organisations	EU support (regime or package) for farms (for the e.g. wine market) market management regime/mechanisms/measures/scheme commodity regime market organisation *Never* CMO
Communication (document)	needs explanation about what it really contains, e.g. set of (policy) proposals recommendation for national governments
Community	EU (unless the legal difference between the Communities and the Union absolutely has to be made clear)
compatible with the single market	does not confer an unfair advantage does not distort competition (preventing protectionism and stimulating economic activity)
competence (competencies)	remit portfolio brief area of responsibility jurisdiction powers authority is an exclusive competence of = is decided by skills (for a person) Competence in its meaning of the legal authority of a court or other body to deal with a particular matter is used in the singular only.
competition	Restricting competition or unfair competition is abstract and also the wrong perspective (a positive policy aspiration, not the actual practice). Much more concrete to say something like: monopolies & mergers, price-fixing, (unfair) subsidies
competitiveness	competitive advantage competitive edge competitive position if EU firms are to remain competitive
concordance (multilingual)	agreement (or consistency) between language versions
convergence criteria	requirements for joining (the euro) euro membership requirements
Council (of ministers)	Depending on context and target audience. Non-experts don’t know what the Council of ministers is. EU leaders EU governments EU member countries, etc. EU (farm) ministers meeting in Brussels agriculture Council = meeting of EU farm ministers
cross‑border	within the EU in another/different (EU) country
customs union	needs explanation: no customs duties at internal borders between the EU member states common customs duties on imports from outside the EU common rules of origin for products from outside the EU

Decision (Regulation, Directive)	These are specific types of legislation, which experts will know and understand. For the general public, laws or rules is probably enough. But ask yourself whether extra information would be useful to the reader: Directives set a goal that all EU countries must achieve, but it is up to the individual countries how they achieve it. Regulations are directly applicable across the EU. Decisions are directly applicable to either an EU country or an individual company, e.g. when the Commission rules on proposed mergers or fines companies for abusing their dominant market position.
decoupled (payments, i.e. farm subsidies)	flat-rate Decoupled just means not dependent on production volume.
delegated acts	needs explanation: non-essential technical amendments (to EU legal acts, by the Commission, without going through the whole lengthy law-making process. Allowed by EP since the Lisbon treaty)
Delegation, Representation	(local) EU mission (local) EU office EU’s representative office EU office in X country Delegation in English implies a group of representatives sent for a strictly limited time span. Representation is too generic.
deliverables	results benefits outcomes
de minimis aid	needs explanation for non-experts: (the level of) subsidies governments can give to companies without having to get EU approval small amounts of state aid that are exempted from Commission approval (no need for ‘undertakings’ to notify the Commission)
(most) deprived	poorest
derogation	exemption exception opt-out
DG Competition/other DGs	when mentioning DGs, consider explaining what they do or better explaining their role
Directive (Regulation, Decision)	These are specific types of legislation, which experts will know and understand. For the general public, laws or rules is probably enough. But ask yourself whether extra information would be useful to the reader: Directives set a goal that all EU countries must achieve, but it is up to the individual countries how they achieve it. Regulations are directly applicable across the EU. Decisions are directly applicable to either an EU country or an individual company, e.g. when the Commission rules on proposed mergers or fines companies for abusing their dominant market position.
Directorate-General (DG)	Use only when referring to a specific one, and even then, only when the audience needs to know or is likely to know the title.

Economic and Monetary Union (EMU)	very abstract, essentially just the euronever use just EMU
enlargement	Process whereby countries join the EU. In texts for non‑specialists, use something more natural‑sounding such as: expansion joining
EURES	European job portal online jobs service jobs website European jobs database (EURES) not: jobs mobility portal
Europe (as a synonym for EU)	In general texts, Europe can usually be used, so that you don’t have to repeat EU all the time. But when talking about statistics or the scope of EU law, you have to be accurate. So use EU if what is meant is the countries that are members of the European Union.
European Citizens’ Initiative	European petitioning system And/or explain what it is, e.g.: initiative allowing the public to petition the Commission directly on specific issues. Good to use the word petition somewhere, since this is essentially what it is.
EuropeAid (cooperation office)	the EU’s development aid office
European Commission	for non-experts add some explanation, e.g.: the EU(‘s) executive (body), the European Commission
European construction	European integration European unity the EU united Europe
European Council	(depending on context and target audience) (at the) EU summit (decision taken by) EU leaders / EU governments
European Political Strategy Centre (EPSC)predecessor: Bureau of European Policy Advisers (BEPA)	the Commission's top policy advisers
European semester	needs explanation: an annual 6-month cycle during which EU governments consult each other to coordinate their economic and budgetary policies an annual cycle of economic policy coordination targeting growth and job creation
European social model	needs explanation: European government intervention through redistribution, high taxes and high public (social) spending / comprehensive welfare cover, etc.
Europe 2020	for non-experts add explanation: the EU’s economic growth strategy up to 2020
EU-10	only in statistical tables, but even then add an explanation in text e.g.: countries that joined (the EU) in 2004
EU-15	only in statistical tables, but even then add an explanation in text e.g.: pre-2004 EU countries or members
EU-25	only in statistical tables, but even then add an explanation e.g.: EU members before 2007
EU-28	only in statistical tables, but even then add an explanation e.g.: all current (EU) members or just: EU countries (that implies the text talks about all of them)
ex ante	upstream prior advance
excessive deficit procedure	needs explanation: the threat of sanctions for excessive government deficits and debt (on countries seeking to join the euro)
external action	foreign policy
external relations	relations with partner countries / the outside world

Schengen area	for non-experts add explanation: no‑border zone border‑free area passport‑free travel
‘Six pack’	needs explanation, e.g.: the 2010 proposals for 6 EU regulations to improve monitoring and control of member countries’ budgets and public debt
Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs)	In most cases, you can use small businesses instead. Note that even the Commission is using the term in legislation (see Small Business Act). Use SMEs only if your readers will likely know it so well that they search for it. Even then, work alternative terms into your text: small businesses / firms small and medium-sized businesses / companies
social dialogue	For non-experts: labour relations staff-management negotiations/relations employers and unions a constructive relationship/dialogue between employers and workers
social enterprise	needs explanation: businesses whose primary purpose is social, rather than to maximise profit distribution to private owners or shareholders businesses that have philanthropic goals, like charities and non-profit bodies often a non-profit organisation
social partners	for non-experts: employers and (trade) unions employers and workers employers and workers’ groups employers’ groups and workers movements
solidarity	social justice/fairness support cooperation Solidarity has a narrower usage in English than French.
Southern Mediterranean	North Africa (this is what’s meant)
stabilisation & association agreement	add explanation or use alternative: pre-membership talks or stage
stakeholders	specify what groups are actually being consulted, e.g.: groups affected by (our) policy (on …) groups concerned/involved… consumers/workers business, authorities – and their representative groups (trade federations, consumer organisations, unions) producers, retailers, etc.
state aid	For non-experts: government support (to companies) state support support from public authorities public assistance to companies government-backed programmes
stocktaking	review
subsidiarity (principle)	for non-experts add explanation, e.g.: Principle whereby the EU only takes action if it’s more effective than nationally, regionally or locally taken action does not respect subsidiarity or proportionality = exceeds the EU’s powers or remit decentralisation (principle) prioritising action by national governments

Unwieldy expressions in English

False friends

Often, the ‘EU aspect’ of terms related to the Commission’s activities is implicit. But needs to be made explicit for non‑expert audiences: acquis vs. body of EU law;

We've not included here the numerous Latin expressions that regularly turn up in Commission texts. Avoid them where at all possible.

But one person’s jargon is another person’s ordinary professional language. So use the words your target audience does.

accession	joining membership entry
ACP countries	Africa and the Caribbean and Pacific regions
acquis	EU law (the body of laws that countries wishing to join the EU must transpose into their national legislation) EU rules
active labour‑market policies	job‑creation schemes/measures measures to help the unemployed back to work
adding value to	enhancing supplementing
additionality	additional funding rule or change the perspective: national matching funds supplement rather than replace national funding
administrative capacity	sufficient (administrative) staff and skills to … (implement projects)
aquaculture	Bigger than ‘fish farming’, which is the term most people are familiar with. Includes the farming of fish, shellfish and algae. Aquaculture unexplained may be acceptable in specialist texts, though it cannot hurt to be explicit about what it covers. In texts for the general public, definitely add an explanation. Even if fish farming doesn’t accurately describe the whole sector, it represents a large percentage of it, so this loose label might be permissible for communication purposes in some contexts.
autonomous trade measures	duty-free access to EU markets

fisheries	fishing fishing industry fishing ground fisheries resources, not fish stocks sustainable fishing, not sustainable fisheries Fisheries is abstract and confusing due to its double meaning (meaning both the business / industry of catching fish and a place where fish are caught).
flexicurity	needs explanation: modernising or reforming labour markets (combining flexibility for employers with security for workers) protecting people not jobs making the job market flexible while maximising security for workers.
free circulation (on the EU market)	are or can be freely sold throughout the EU
freedom of establishment	Explain for non-experts: (businesses) setting up outside their home country freedom to set up (and do) business in any country operate abroad
free movement of workers (e.g. promoting this in the EU)	helping workers to find jobs in another EU country
frontier worker	working in one country, living in another cross-border commuter cross-border worker
fundamental freedoms (etc.)	democratic values and practices

heads of state and government	EU leaders
hierarchical superior	boss (line) manager immediate superior head of unit director etc.
High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy	(depending on context) foreign policy chief
human capital (investment in …)	(depending on context and target audience) people and their skills education and training
human capital development	training for staff

intergovernmental conference	negotiations talks constitutional convention 2007 IGC = formal treaty talks or reform treaty talks
IUU fishing	illegal fishing (acronym stands for Illegal, Unreported & Unregulated)

mainstreaming	Refers to the process of taking into account goals such as gender‑equality & climate‑protection when developing programmes, laws, etc. that at first glance might seem unrelated. enshrining/anchoring in law and practice establishing across the board in all policies X in other EU policies
Member States	In all contexts except the most legal, we recommend: EU countries EU members national governments, national authorities (particularly when talking about something they must do, such as transpose a directive.)
methodologies	often methods is all that is meant
millennium development goals	UN development goals poverty-reduction goals
mission	Ask yourself if you can’t use a more specific term: field visit inspection visit working visit fact-finding mission on-site inspection
mobility	In English, this not‑so‑common term makes one think of, say, the physical ability to walk. More natural‑sounding alternatives include: (sustainable, green) transport travel personal mobility relocation migration (for work) moving around Europe (to live, work, study, retire) borderless XY study/training abroad mobility week = describe using terms such as sustainable travel, annual event
mobile jobseekers	people looking for work outside their home region/country
modalities	arrangements procedures terms of implementation details/rules for implementation
monetary stability	stable prices (i.e. low inflation and reduced external currency shocks)
multiannual financial framework (MFF)	needs explanation: medium-term EU budget budget plans for the next 7 years 7-year EU budget budget cap cap on spending
multilingualism	Ask yourself if it’s not clearer to say what is really meant, e.g.: (foreign) languages multilingual communication foreign language use language policy learning languages language learning language skills.

negative evolution (of the economy)	(economic) downturn decline slump
(European) Neighbourhood policy	needs explanation: EU support programme for countries around its eastern and southern borders / countries in eastern Europe and the Mediterranean

Permanent Representative	(top) EU diplomat
Presidency (of the council)	for non-EU-experts explain or use alternative: the 6-month rotating/unofficial leadership of the EU six‑month stint in charge of EU affairs country in charge of, at the helm (of), etc.
programming	finalising specific funding allocations allocating funding
proportionality	add explanation for non-EU-experts: limiting EU action to the minimum needed (to achieve the goals in the Treaties)
provisions	laws rules points of (EU law)
public procurement	from contractor’s perspective: public (or government) contracts tenders

rapid alert	early warning
reflection group	high‑level working party panel on future challenges / the future direction of
Regulation (Directive, Decision)	These are specific types of legislation, which experts will know and understand. For the general public, laws or rules is probably enough. But ask yourself whether extra information would be useful to the reader: Directives set a goal that all EU countries must achieve, but it is up to the individual countries how they achieve it. Regulations are directly applicable across the EU. Decisions are directly applicable to either an EU country or an individual company, e.g. when the Commission rules on proposed mergers or fines companies for abusing their dominant market position.
Representation, Delegation	(local) EU mission (local) EU office EU’s representative office EU office in X country Delegation in English implies a group of representatives sent for a strictly limited time span. Representation is too generic.
Research framework programme (e.g. 7^th research framework programme / FP7)	EU’s (past) research (funding) programme EU’s main funding programme for scientific research, Horizon 2020
roaming	(depending on target audience) (making and receiving) mobile calls (while) abroad

Treaty of Rome	EU’s founding treaty
TV without frontiers	EU broadcasting rules rules on audiovisual content

white paper	needs explanation, e.g.: EU (policy) paper EU proposals set of proposals proposal paper blueprint
wholesale energy markets	for non-experts add explanation: markets where gas and electricity generating and trading companies supply energy to energy retailers (the companies that sell us our gas and electricity)

accounted for by the fact that	because
a certain number of	some
accordingly	so
as of / as from	after since
authentic	(recognised as the) official or autdorised version

circa	about
coherent	Means: consistent coordinated logical orderly Not:in agreement with or accordant with
come forward with	put forward
concerning	on about
consequently	so
contextual help	mouseover help or tooltip (but this is rarer)

de facto	in reality in effect actual
due to the fact that	because

electronically, by electronic means	by e-mail online computerised
eliminate	cut out
employment opportunities	jobs
ensure the universal availability of…	ensure that everyone has access to …
ex post	downstream subsequent
ex post facto	after the event retrospectively

good governance	needs explanation: sound / honest government integrity in government rule of law (essentially ‘fighting corruption’)
governance	management organisation
grandfather (verb)	needs explanation: to exempt existing practices from a new law, so the law only applies to people who start new practices of that type.

scarcity	shortage
specificities	specific features characteristics (of x)
sunset clause	clause put into agreements etc. to ensure they don’t run past a certain date
synergy	complementary mutual in association with pooling resources more cost-effective ability to work effectively in collaboration with work better together to coordinate with economies of scale

tertiary education	post-secondary education higher and further education
the majority of	most
thematic	issue-based issue-specific
thereby, therefore, thus	in this way so
there is, there are	Often unnecessary. Instead of there are three issues facing the prime minister, write three issues face the prime minister or The prime minister faces three issues.
third countries	non-EU countries countries outside the EU
threshold	maximum amount limit ceiling (amount)

vade mecum	handbook manual (operating) instructions
validate	confirm

action(s)	If used with a meaning akin to scheme, measure or project, those latter are preferable. If you want to use action, then use in singular.
actor(s)	from the French acteurs interested group body organisation party participant interest interest group player those involved operator
actual	means real or true Don’t confuse with the French actuel, Dutch actueel, German aktuell, Italian attuale and Portuguese atual, which mean current or topical.
actually	In English, this is used to soften a contradiction - it does not mean now
assist at	means to help not to attend *Don’t confuse with the French assister à* and similar expressions in other Romance languages.**

on condition that	if
on the subject of	about
open coordination (method of)	voluntary policy coordination by EU governments
ordinary legislative procedure	needs explanation: the standard way EU legislation is now adopted
owing to the fact that	because

payment service providers	depending on context, say what is really meant, e.g.: banks credit card companies
points of fact and law	the facts of a case and how the relevant laws apply to them
post hoc	after this
precarious	unstable (employment)
prejudice (without prejudice to, does not prejudge)	notwithstanding does not affect detract from the terms of has no bearing on
proactive	active energetic
protocol	annex
provided that
pursuant to	under
pursuing non-economic activities	not in paid work

regarding	on about
relating to	on
relationship	relations
remunerated employment	paid work
resources	(depending on context) time and money

where/when	if
within the framework of	under
with reference to	about
with regard to	about
with respect to	on

delay	In English, if something is delayed, it means it is late, postponed or held up, i.e. the time limit has passed. Don’t confuse with the French délai, which refers to a period of time or a time limit or deadline.
dispose of	means to get rid of something Don’t confuse with the French disposer de and similar expressions in other Romance languages. Disposer de means to have something or to be equipped with.

elaborate	Don’t confuse with the French élaborer, which means to draft, draw up, prepare, produce, formulate, write up or develop.
element	Don’t confuse with the French element, which means part, constituent or component (of a structure/problem). In English, it is an essential or characteristic part of something abstract, or more specifically a chemical element or one of the four elements: earth, water, air, and fire.
envisage	provide for to be possible consider plan propose envision identify
euro area	eurozone (no capital)
eventual / eventually	means certainly or later on Don’t confuse with the French éventuellement and the German eventuell, which mean possibly.
exchange of experience	knowledge sharing or pooling sharing experience sharing or pooling or spreading information/ skills/know‑how/lessons learnt information exchange or sharing knowledge transfer

informatic(s)	IT computer or computing (as adjective) computerised electronic
information	Unlike French, information in English is used in the singular only – a piece of information, some information

premium (CAP)	allowance subsidy Don’t confuse with French prime.
project	The French projet does not always translate as project in English. For example, projet de budget means draft budget and projet de loi means bill or draft law.
punctual / punctually	means on time; not sporadic, occasional or localised. Don’t confuse with the French ponctuel and the German punktuell.

reinforce (strengthen)	Avoid overuse – from French renforcer improve enhance consolidate boost energise increase tighten revitalise expand step up put greater emphasis on focus more on
report	Don’t confuse with the French reporter, which means to postpone to a later date, or to carry over money in accounts.
respect	means to value or honour someone or something Don’t confuse with the French respecter, which means to meet (a deadline), observe (principles and rules), comply (with rules) or uphold.

sensible	means reasonable Don’t confuse with the French sensible and the German sensibel, which mean sensitive.
social	(social) welfare social security