Annex A4 Main acronyms and initialisms

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W

The difference between acronyms and initialisms is explained in Section 10.8, which also contains advice on the use of abbreviations and symbols.
Abbreviations followed by an asterisk are fixed forms which may not follow the house rule.
The list is not exhaustive.

Modifications to the 2011 edition

29.9.2023	ETS
14.4.2023	COSME
22.7.2021	CSDP
21.7.2021	ISG
16.6.2020	COVID-19, OECD
3.2.2020	AETR, APEC, ASCII, CCC, CCCN, CENELEC, COGECA, ECOSOC, FAO, ICAO, ILO, IMO, OAPEC, OAU, OECD, OPEC, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNICEF, WHO, WIPO, WTO
29.7.2019	EASA
17.7.2019	ELA
4.7.2019	ACER
15.7.2013	ENISA
1.8.2013	eu-LISA
25.10.2018	TARIC
1.5.2017	Europol
15.2.2017	CoR
14.2.2017	cif/CIF, fob/FOB
6.10.2016	Frontex
1.7.2016	CEPOL, ECHO
10.5.2016	ESM
25.3.2016	OHIM/EUIPO
21.3.2016	EPO (1)
8.4.2015	EUSC/Satcen
30.11.2014	EPSC
15.4.2014	EAR
9.4.2014	AID/USAID
23.10.2013	BEREC
1.8.2013	eu-LISA
15.7.2013	ENISA
19.6.2013	ESMA
13.6.2013	EIOPA
7.6.2013	EBA
30.4.2013	ACER
4.12.2012	EASO
17.10.2012	EUSA
20.1.2012	LIBOR
1.1.2012	CFCA/EFCA

A

ACE	action for cooperation in the field of economics
ACER	European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators
ACP	African, Caribbean and Pacific States party to the Lomé Convention
AEC	Atomic Energy Commission (USA)
AETR	European Agreement concerning the Work of Crews of Vehicles engaged in International Road Transport
AG	DE: Aktiengesellschaft
AID	(see USAID)
AIDS	acquired immune deficiency syndrome
Altener	programme for the promotion of renewable energy sources
ANC	African National Congress
APEC	Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
ASBL	FR: association sans but lucratif
ASCII	American Standard Code for Information Interchange
ASEAN	Association of South-East Asian Nations (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar/Burma, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam)
ASEM	Asia-Europe Meeting
ASOR	Agreement on the international carriage of passengers by road by means of occasional coach and bus services
AU	African Union (replaced the OAU; see http://www.africa-union.org/)

B

BCC	Business Cooperation Centre
BC-NET	business cooperation network
Benelux	Economic Union of Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands
BEREC	Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications
BEUC	European Bureau of Consumers’ Unions
BIC	1. Business and innovation centre 2. EU measure for the creation and development of business and innovation centres and their network
BLEU	Belgo-Luxembourg Economic Union
BSE	bovine spongiform encephalopathy

C

CAA	Civil Aviation Authority
CAD	computer-aided design
CAP	common agricultural policy
CARE	database on road accidents
CBSS	Council of the Baltic Sea States
CCAMLR	Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources
CCC	1. Customs Co-operation Council 2. Consumers’ Consultative Council
CCCN	Customs Co-operation Council Nomenclature
CCITT	Consultative Committee on Innovation and Technology Transfer
CCT	Common Customs Tariff
CD-ROM	compact disc read-only memory
CE	as in ‘CE marking’: European Community conformity marking
CECA	FR: Communauté européenne du charbon et de l’acier (in EN: ECSC)
CECAF	Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic
Cedefop	European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (FR: Centre européen pour le développement de la formation professionnelle)
Cedex (*)	courrier d’entreprise à distribution exceptionnelle (in FR addresses)
CEECs	central and east(ern) European countries
CEIES	Advisory Committee on Statistical Information in the Economic and Social Spheres (FR: Comité consultatif européen de l’information statistique dans les domaines économique et social)
CELEX	interinstitutional computerised documentation system for Community law (Communitatis Europaeae Lex) (replaced by EUR-Lex)
CEN	European Committee for Standardisation (FR: Comité européen de normalisation)
CENELEC (^*)	European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation (FR: Comité européen de normalisation électrotechnique)
CEPOL	European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (until 30.6.2016: ‘European Police College’)
CEPT	European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (FR: Conférence européenne des administrations des postes et des télécommunications)
CERD	European Research and Development Committee (FR: Comité européen de la recherche et du développement)
CERN	European Organisation for Nuclear Research (FR: Organisation européenne pour la recherche nucléaire)
CESE	Comité économique et social européen (EN: EESC)
CFCA	(see EFCA)
CFCs	chlorofluorocarbons
CFP	common fisheries policy
CFPE	Community financing projects for the environment
CFSP	common foreign and security policy
CIF	cost, insurance and freight (Incoterms 2010)
CIREA	Centre for Information, Discussion and Exchange on Asylum (within the General Secretariat of the Council)
CIS	Commonwealth of Independent States (see Annex A3)
CITES	Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
CJEU	Court of Justice of the European Union
CLRAE	Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe
CMEA	Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (Comecon)
CN	Combined Nomenclature
cobol (*)	common business-oriented language
Codest	Committee for the European Development of Science and Technology (FR: Comité de développement européen de la science et de la technologie)
COGECA (^*)	General Confederation of Agricultural Cooperatives in the European Union (formerly ‘General Committee for Agricultural Cooperation in the EC’)
Comecon	Council for Mutual Economic Assistance
Comedi	commerce electronic data interchange
Comext	database of external trade statistics
COPA	Committee of Professional Agricultural Organisations
COPEC	Joint Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men (FR: comité paritaire de l’égalité des chances)
CoR (*)	European Committee of the Regions
CORDIS (*)	Community Research and Development Information Service
Coreper	Permanent Representatives Committee
Corine	coordination of information on the environment in Europe
COSME	programme for the competitiveness of enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises
COST	European cooperation in science and technology (old name: European cooperation in the field of scientific and technical research)
COVID-19	coronavirus disease 2019
CPVO	Community Plant Variety Office
CREST	Scientific and Technical Research Committee (FR: comité de la recherche scientifique et technique)
Cronos	database of macroeconomic time series (Eurostat)
CSCE	Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (now OSCE)
CSDP	common security and defence policy
CSF	Community support framework
CST	Scientific and Technical Committee (Euratom)
CTS	conformance testing services

D

DECT	digital European cordless telecommunications
DG	directorate-general (see also Section 9.6, ‘Commission directorates-general: official titles’)
DIANE	direct information access network for Europe
DIN	DE: Deutsche Industrie Norm
DRAM	dynamic random access memory
DTP	desktop publishing

E

EAC	European Association for Cooperation
EAEC	European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom)
EAFRD	European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development
EAGF	European Agricultural Guarantee Fund
EAGGF	European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund
EAR	European Agency for Reconstruction (end of mandate: 31.12.2008)
EAS	European Administrative School (now EUSA)
EASA	European Union Aviation Safety Agency
EASO	European Asylum Support Office (replaced by the European Union Agency for Asylum – EUAA)
EBA	European Banking Authority
EBRD	European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
EC	European Community/Communities (ceased on 1 December 2009 – date of entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon)
ECA	1. European Court of Auditors 2. do not use for European Chemicals Agency; see ECHA
ECB	European Central Bank
ECDC	European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (same abbreviation in all languages; do not use ECDPC)
ECDIN	Environmental chemicals data and information network
ECHA	European Chemicals Agency
ECIP	EC International Investment Partners
ECHO	1. Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) (see also Section 9.6, ‘Commission directorates-general: official titles’) 2. European Commission host organisation (former Commission database server)
ECOS	European city cooperation system
ECOSOC (^*)	Economic and Social Council (UN)
ECSC	European Coal and Steel Community (ceased on 24 July 2002 – date of expiration of the ECSC Treaty)
ECU	European currency unit (used as a monetary symbol, lower case when used as a word); replaced by the euro on 1 January 1999 (see also Section 7.3.1)
EDA	European Defence Agency
EDF	European Development Fund (Objective 1, Objective 5a, etc.)
EDI	electronic data interchange
Edifact	electronic data interchange for administration, commerce and transport
EDPS	European Data Protection Supervisor
EEA	1. European Economic Area 2. European Environment Agency
EEAS	European External Action Service
EEC	European Economic Community (see EC)
EEIG	European Economic Interest Grouping
EESC	European Economic and Social Committee
EFCA	European Fisheries Control Agency (until 31.12.2012: ‘Community Fisheries Control Agency’ (CFCA))
EFICS	European forestry information and communication system
EFSA	European Food Safety Authority
EFTA	European Free Trade Association (Stockholm Convention)
EGF	European Globalisation Adjustment Fund
Ehlass	European home and leisure accident surveillance system
EIB	European Investment Bank
EICs	Euro Info Centres
EIF	European Investment Fund
EIN	European informatics network
Einecs	European inventory of existing commercial chemical substances
EIOPA	European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority
ELA	European Labour Authority
EMA	European Medicines Agency (formerly ‘European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products’, EMEA)
EMCDDA	European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction
EMEA	(see EMA)
EMI	European Monetary Institute
EMS	European Monetary System
EMSA	European Maritime Safety Agency
EMU	economic and monetary union (Stage I, Stage II, etc.)
ENEA	European Nuclear Energy Agency
ENEL	IT: Ente nazionale energia elettrica
ENIAC	European Nanoelectronics Initiative Advisory Council
ENISA	European Union Agency for Cybersecurity
Envireg	regional action programme on the initiative of the Commission concerning the environment
EOTC	European Organisation for Testing and Certification
EP	European Parliament
EPA	Environment Protection Agency
EPO	1. European Patent Office 2. European Patent Organisation
EPOS	1. electronic point-of-sale 2. European pool of studies (and analyses)
EPSC	European Political Strategy Centre (see also Section 9.6, ‘Commission directorates-general: official titles’)
EPSO	European Personnel Selection Office
ERA	European Railway Agency (replaced by the European Union Agency for Railways on 15.6.2016)
Erasmus	action scheme for the mobility of university students
ERDF	European Regional Development Fund
ERICA	European Research Institute for Consumer Affairs
ERM	exchange rate mechanism
ERMES	European radio messaging system
ESA	1. European Space Agency 2. European system of integrated economic accounts 3. Euratom Supply Agency
ESAF	enhanced structural adjustment facility
ESC	Economic and Social Committee (now EESC)
ESCB	European System of Central Banks
ESF	European Social Fund
ESM	European Stability Mechanism (http://www.esm.europa.eu/)
ESMA	European Securities and Markets Authority
ETF	European Training Foundation
ETS	emissions trading system
ETSI	European Telecommunications Standards Institute
EU	European Union in tables or graphs to denote a group of Member States use the form: EU-9, EU-12, EU-15, etc. (but avoid this form in running text)
EUA	European unit of account (replaced on 9 April 1979 by the ecu, which was in turn replaced by the euro on 1 January 1999)
EUAA	European Union Agency for Asylum (formerly the European Asylum Support Office – EASO)
EUI	European University Institute
EUIPO	European Union Intellectual Property Office (replaced OHIM)
EUISS	European Union Institute for Security Studies
eu-LISA (*)	European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice
EUMC	European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia
EU-OSHA	European Agency for Safety and Health at Work
EUR	euro (see also Section 7.3.1)
Euratom	European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC)
Eureka	European Research Coordination Agency
EURES	European employment services
EUR-Lex	website providing access to EU law
Eurocontrol	European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation
Eurofound	European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions
Eurolib	European library project
Euronet-DIANE	direct information access network for Europe
Europol	European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation
Eurostat	the statistical office of the European Union
Eurydice	information network on education in Europe (http://www.eurydice.org/)
EUSA	European School of Administration
EUSC	(see Satcen)
EVCA	European Venture Capital Association
EWOS	European workshop for open systems

F

FADN	farm accountancy data network
FAO	Food and Agriculture Organization (UN)
FBR	fast breeder reactor
FEOGA	FR equivalent of EAGGF
FIDE	International Federation for European Law
FIFG	Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance
FOB	free on board (Incoterms 2010)
FRA	European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights
Frontex	European Border and Coast Guard Agency (until 5.10.2016: ‘European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union’)

G

G7	Group of Seven (leading industrialised nations: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK, USA)
G24	Intergovernmental Group of Twenty-four on International Monetary Affairs
G77	Group of 77
GATS	General Agreement on Trade in Services
GATT	General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
GCC	Gulf Cooperation Council
GCV	gross calorific value
GDP	gross domestic product
GFCM	General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean
GISCO	geographic information system for the Commission (Eurostat)
GmbH (*)	DE: Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung
GNP	gross national product
GRIPS	general relation-based information processing system
GSA	European GNSS Agency (same abbreviation in all languages)
GSM	global system for mobile communications
GSP	generalised system of preferences

H

HCFCs	hydrochlorofluorocarbons
HDTV	high-definition television
HIV	human immunodeficiency virus
HS	Harmonised System

I

IAEA	International Atomic Energy Agency (UN)
IATA	International Air Transport Association
IBC	integrated broadband communications
IBRD	International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank) (UN)
IBSFC	International Baltic Sea Fishery Commission
ICAO	International Civil Aviation Organization
ICCAT	International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas
ICJ	International Court of Justice
ICPs	interuniversity cooperation programmes
ICRC	International Committee of the Red Cross
IDA	multiannual programme to support the implementation of trans-European networks for the interchange of data between administrations
IDCP	International Dolphin Conservation Programme
IDST	FR: information et documentation scientifiques et techniques
IEA	International Energy Agency (OECD)
IEFR	International Emergency Food Reserve
IFC	International Finance Corporation (UN)
IFRC	International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
IGC	Intergovernmental Conference
ILO	International Labour Organization
IMCO	Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organisation
IMF	International Monetary Fund (UN)
IMI	Innovative Medicines Initiative
IMO	International Maritime Organization
IMP	integrated Mediterranean programme
INFCE	international nuclear fuel cycle evaluation
Inmarsat	International Maritime Satellite Organisation
INTAS	International Association for the Promotion of Cooperation with Scientists from the new independent States of the former Soviet Union
Intelsat	International Telecommunications Satellite Organisation
Interprise	programme for the improvement of the business environment and the promotion of the development of enterprises, and in particular small and medium-sized enterprises
Interreg II	initiative concerning border development, cross-border cooperation and selected energy networks
Intrastat	statistical collection system
IOTC	Indian Ocean Tuna Commission
IRDAC	Industrial Research and Development Advisory Committee
IRIS	interrogation requirements information system
ISBN	international standard book number
ISDN	integrated services digital network
ISG	Interinstitutional Style Guide
ISIC	International Standard Industrial Classification of all Economic Activities
ISIS	integrated standards information system
ISO	International Organisation for Standardisation
ISSN	international standard serial number
IT	information technology
ITER	international thermonuclear experimental reactor
IUCN	International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources

J

JET	Joint European Torus
JICS	Joint Interpreting and Conference Service (European Commission; replaced by the Directorate-General for Interpretation)
JOPP	joint venture Phare programme
JRC	Joint Research Centre

K

KBS	knowledge-based system

L

LAN	local area network
LDC	least developed country
Leader	links between actions for the development of the rural economy
Leonardo da Vinci	action programme for the implementation of a vocational training policy
LIBOR	London interbank offered rate
Licross	League of Red Cross Societies
LIFE	financial instrument for the environment
LME	London Metal Exchange
LPG	liquefied petroleum gas

M

Matthaeus	exchange programme of customs officials
MCA	monetary compensatory amount
MEDIA	action programme to promote the development of the European audiovisual industry
MEP	Member of the European Parliament
Mercosur	Southern Cone Common Market (ES: Mercado Común del Sur)
MFN	most favoured nation
mips	millions of instructions per second (computing)
MISEP	mutual information system on employment policies
MSA	Multilateral Steel Agreement

N

NABS	nomenclature for the analysis and comparison of science budgets and programmes
NACE	general industrial classification of economic activities within the European Union
NAFO	North-West Atlantic Fisheries Organisation
NAFTA	North American Free Trade Agreement
NAMSA	NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency
NARIC	National Academic Recognition Information Centre
NASA	National Aeronautics and Space Administration (US)
NASCO	North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation
NATO	North Atlantic Treaty Organization
NCI	New Community Instrument
NEA	Nuclear Energy Agency (OECD)
NEAFC	North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission
NGO	non-governmental organisation
NIC	newly industrialised country
NIP	national indicative programme
NIS	new independent States (of the former Soviet Union)
NUTS	nomenclature of territorial units for statistics (Eurostat) (NUTS 1, 2, etc.)

O

OAPEC	Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries
OAS	Organisation of American States
OAU	Organization of African Unity (replaced by the AU)
OCAS	Organisation of Central American States
OCTs	overseas countries and territories
OD	overseas department
OECD	Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
OHIM	Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Design) (replaced by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO))
OJ	Official Journal of the European Union (before 1 February 2003: Official Journal of the European Communities)
ONP	open network provision
OP	organophosphate
OPEC	Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries
OPET	Organisation for the Promotion of Energy Technologies
OSCE	Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (replaced the CSCE from 1 January 1995)
OSHA	(see EU-OSHA)
OSI	open systems interconnection
OT	overseas territory
OVIDE	videotex for Members of the European Parliament

P

PAO	FR: production/publication assistée par ordinateur
PC	personal computer
PDO	protected designation of origin
PGI	protected geographical indication
Phare (*)	programme of aid to central and east European countries
PhD (*)	Doctor of Philosophy
PINC	Community’s illustrative nuclear programme
plc (*)	public limited company
PLO	Palestine Liberation Organisation
PME	FR: petite et moyenne entreprise (see SME)
PPP	1. purchasing power parity 2. ‘polluter pays’ principle
PPS	purchasing power standard
PSTN	public switched telephone network
PTTI	Postal, Telegraph and Telephone International
PVC	polyvinyl chloride

Q

QC	Queen’s Counsel
QUEST	1. quality electrical systems test 2. quarterly European simulation tool 3. query evaluation and search technique

R

RAM	random access memory
RAPID	database giving daily view of EU activities, managed by the Directorate-General for Press and Communication of the European Commission
RARE	associated networks for European research
R & D	research and development
RDD	research, development and demonstration
Reitox	European information network on drugs and drug addiction
ROM	read-only memory
RTD	research and technological development

S

SA	FR: société anonyme
SAARC	South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
SAD	single administrative document
SADC	Southern African Development Community
SAF	structural adjustment facility
SAFE	SAFE programme (safety actions for Europe) aimed at improving safety, hygiene and health at work, in particular in small and medium-sized enterprises
SALT	strategic arms limitation talks
SARL	FR: société à responsabilité limitée
Satcen	European Union Satellite Centre
SAVE	specific actions for vigorous energy efficiency
SCAD	automated central documentation service (database) (FR: service central automatisé de documentation)
SCENT	system for a customs enforcement network
SCF	Scientific Committee on Food
SDI	strategic defence initiative
SDR	special drawing right (IMF)
SdT (*)	FR: service de traduction (European Commission; replaced by the Directorate-General for Translation)
SEAFO	South-East Atlantic Fisheries Organisation
SEDOC	European system for the international clearing of vacancies and applications for employment (see EURES)
SESAR	New generation European air traffic management system
SGML	standard generalised markup language
SICAV	FR: société d’investissement à capital variable
SIENA	trade database based on Nimexe (Eurostat) (FR: système intérimaire d’exploitation de la Nimexe automatisé)
SIMAP	Information system for public procurement
SIS	Schengen information system
SITC	standard international trade classification
SME	small and medium-sized enterprise
SMIC	FR: salaire minimal interprofessionnel de croissance
SMIG	FR: salaire minimal interprofessionnel garanti
SMU	small and medium-sized undertaking
SOLAS	International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea
SpA (*)	IT: società per azioni
SPRL	FR: société de personnes à responsabilité limitée
Stabex	system for the stabilisation of ACP and OCT export earnings
START	strategic arms reduction talks
STOA	scientific and technological options assessment
Sysmin	special financing facility for ACP and OCT mining products
Systran	computer translation system
SWIFT	Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Transfers

T

TAC	total allowable catch
Tacis (*)	technical assistance to the Commonwealth of Independent States
TAM	trade assessment mechanism
TARIC	integrated tariff of the European Union
TCDC	technical cooperation among developing countries
Tempus	trans-European mobility scheme for university studies
TENs	trans-European networks
TGV	high-speed train (FR: train à grande vitesse)
TIF	international transit by rail (FR: transport international par chemin de fer)
TIR	international carriage of goods by road (FR: transport international de marchandises par route)
TRIPs	trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights
TUC	Trades Union Congress

U

UCLAF	Unit for the Coordination of Fraud Prevention
UHF	ultra-high frequency
UHT	ultra-heat-treated (milk or cream)
UMTS	universal mobile telecommunications system
UN	United Nations
UNBRO	United Nations Border Relief Operation
UNCED	United Nations Conference on Environment and Development
UNCTAD (^*)	United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
UNDP	United Nations Development Programme
UNDRO	United Nations Disaster Relief Organisation
UNECE	United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
UNEP	United Nations Environment Programme
UNESCO (^*)	United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
UNHCR	Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
UNICE	Union of Industrial and Employers’ Confederations of Europe
UNICEF (^*)	United Nations Children’s Fund
UNRRA	United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Agency
UNRWA	United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
UPU	Universal Postal Union
URBAN	initiative concerning urban areas
URL	uniform resource locator
USAID	Agency for International Development (USA)

V

v	versus
VAT	value added tax
VHF	very high frequency
VOCs	volatile organic compounds

W

WCPFC	Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (usual name: Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission)
WECAFC	Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission
WEU	Western European Union
WFTU	World Federation of Trade Unions
WHO	World Health Organization (UN)
WIPO	World Intellectual Property Organization (UN)
WTO	World Trade Organization (successor to GATT)
WWF	Worldwide Fund for Nature (formerly World Wildlife Fund)