If you want to take part in an EU-funded project, it helps to know the right words. Knowing your 'Eurospeak' or 'Eurojargon' - the European Union's hybrid language - can make or break your chances!

The Eurospeak lexicon has been set out by stage of the project.

Starting up
animateur - contractor paid to initiate specific projects or parts thereof
exit strategy - plan for ending a project
inputs - the resources that go into a project
memory organisations - includes libraries, museums, etc.
multi-partner projects - projects must involve partners with different perspectives/backgrounds (eg, trade unions, employers, institutes, public or private sector groups, etc.)
strategy - broad plan defining your overall approach and direction
synergy - avoiding overlap between projects/actions
transnational - projects must involve partners from several EU or other specified countries

Policy
bottom-up-approach - to encourage participation in decision-making at the lowest levels
multidimensionality - links with bodies engaged in related areas of policy
cross-compliance - activities must not contradict other EU policies, programmes or activities
transparency - making decisions and actions accountable

Appraisal
added-value (or value-added) - what kind of enhancement your project will deliver
milestones - key events marking a clear stage in completing a phase of the project
monitoring - part of evaluation process, meaning the gathering and recording of information
performance indicators - ways for measuring the outputs and outcomes of your project
project appraisal - the process of evaluating a proposed project to see if it is worth investing in.
value for money - is the project effective (meets its aims), efficient and economic

Action
benchmarking - a continuous systematic process of evaluation which establish best practices
best practise - a technique or methodology that, through experience and research, has proven to reliably lead to a desired result
capacity building - developing resources/infrastructure
horizontal measures - measures which apply to or effect all or most sectors of EU policy

Results
deliverables - what the project produces or delivers (see also outputs)
market authorisation - a product licence
interoperability - cross-border technical compatibility
outcomes - the benefits and overall difference of the project
outputs - what the project produces or delivers (see also deliverables)
regeneration - the rebuilding of areas affected by industrial decline
sustainable benefits - the positive outcomes of your project should have a lasting effect
targets - pre-set measures or milestones which your project should meet
upskilling - training; improving peoples' ability to undertake certain tasks

Follow-up
dissemination - wide circulation of results to target audience
visibility - publicity and PR

Anthony Smith
27 November 2003