European integration is growing more complicated by the day. This glossary explains the meaning of some of the more important words and phrases.

If you have any additions or amendments to suggest to the definitions or the links, please e-mail them to glossary@federalunion.org.uk.

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U

unanimity - the idea that decisions can be taken by the Council of Ministers or the European Council only if every member state agrees. Any one country can, on its own, prevent agreement. It enables each national government to protect its vital interests, but it is a power which can easily be exploited.

United Europe of States- a shorthand way of describing a European political union which is obviously intended to be different from a United States of Europe. How exactly it would be different has never been specified: federalists argue that unless it can be defined, the term is meaningless.

United States of Europe - a shorthand way of describing a federal Europe, drawing a parallel with the United States of America. Federalists argue that each federation will be shaped by the particular characteristics and histories of its member states; a federal Europe will not be an exact copy of the USA. Winston Churchill, in his Zurich speech of 1946, spoke of the need to build a "kind of United States of Europe". (more information)