The State of the European Union. The European Parliament faces its most important elections yet

149 AfD: Alternative für Deutschland (Alternative for Ger- many Afi: Analistas Financieros Internacionales (International Financial Analysts) ALDE: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe group BBVA: Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria BMAS: Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales (Germany’s Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs) CARD: Coordinated Annual Review on Defence CDA: Christen-Democratisch Appèl (Christian Demo- cratic Appeal) CDU: Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands (Christian Democratic Union of Germany) CEAR: Comisión Española de Ayuda al Refugiado (Spanish Commission for Refugee Aid) CEAS: Common European Asylum System CEU: Centro de Estudios Universitarios Cevipof: Centre de recherches politiques de Sciences Po (Center of political researches of Sciences Po.) CFSP: Common Foreign and Security Policy CIS: Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (Spanish Centre for Sociological Research) COP24: United Nations Climate Change Conference in Katowice CPA: Compte Personnel d’Activité (Personal Activity Account) CRRF: Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework CSDP: Common Security and Defence Policy CSU: Christlich – Soziale Union in Bayern (Christian Social Union Bavaria) EBA: European Banking Authority ECB: European Central Bank ECHR: European Convention on Human Rights Ecofin: Economic and Financial Affairs Council ECR: European Conservatives and Reformists ECRE: European Council on Refugees and Exiles EDF: European Development Fund EEAS: European External Action Service EFDD: Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy EFTA: European Free Trade Association EMU: Economic and Monetary Union ENF: Europe of Nations and Freedom EP: European Parliament EPP: European People’s Party EPSCO: Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council Erasmus: European Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students ESM: European Stability Mechanism EU: European Union FDP: Freie Demokratische Partei (Free Democratic Party) FES: Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (Friedrich Ebert Foun- dation) FI: Forza Italia (Forward Italy or Let’s Go Italy) Fidesz: Fidesz – Magyar Polgári Szövetség (Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Alliance) FN: Front National (National Front) 1 FPÖ: Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs (Freedom Party of Austria) FRA: Fundamental Rights Agency Frontex: frontières extérieures (European Border and Coast Guard Agency) GAFA(M): Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple (and Mi- crosoft) GDP: Gross domestic product HQ: headquarters ILA: Individual Learning Account IMF: International Monetary Fund LR: Les Républicans (The Republicans) LREM: La République en Marche (The Republic Forward) M5S: Movimento 5 Stelle (Five Star Movement) MEP: Member of the European Parliament MP: Member of Parliament MPCC: Military Planning and Conduct Capability 1  From 2018, the Party has changed its name to Rassemblement Na- tional (National Rally). Acronyms and abbreviations