Naomi Bordon
Summary European & International Law
Introduction to European Law
Chapter 1: structure of the EU Treaties
The rule of law (rechtsstaat waarin ook overheid aan wetten onderworpen is): every action
taken by the EU is founded on treaties that have been agreed by all EU countries and ratified
by their parliaments or by referendum.
• Essential concept that defends us against non-found decisions.
• Essential concept of democracy.
Only 6 countries started the European Union à Post WWII reconciliation.
Why was it important that Spain and Portugal joined in 1982? Those two countries weren’t
democracies, but dictatorial regimes until the mid ‘70’s. So, they joined really fast after
turning into a democracy.
Private international law: that part of the law that indicates which jurisdiction needs to be
applicated in conflicts of jurisdiction law of a country we have to apply.
Red weeks = the plenary session weeks.
The treaties lay down:
• The objectives of the European Union e.g. culture and traffic aren’t an objective
• The rules for EU institutions
• How decisions are made
• Relationship between the EU and its Member States
They have been amended (= gewijzigd):
• Each time new Member States have joined.
o Started out with only 6: Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Italy, France
and Germany à post WWII reconciliation.
• To reform the European Union’s institutions and to give it new areas of responsibility
• Last amending treaty: Lisbon Treaty
Core treaties:
• Treaty on European Union: basis of EU law (TEU)
• Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU): Verdrag van Rome à
hiermee werd EEG gevestigd, voorloper van de Europese Unie.
Chapter 2: Powers of the European Union – sources of EU law
Who takes the decisions?
• European Parliament: represents the EU’s citizens and is directly elected by them.
• European Council
1
,Naomi Bordon
o Consists of the Heads of State or Government
o Defines the general political direction and priorities
• Council: represents the governments of the EU Member States.
• European Commission: represents the interests of the EU as a whole.
Types of legislation (= wetgeving)
Regulation (= verordening): a law that is applicable and binding in all Member States directly.
• It does not need to be passed into national law by the Member States.
• National laws may need to be changed to avoid conflicting with the regulation.
• Vb. ingevoerde goederen die van buiten de EU komen, moeten aan bepaalde
gemeenschappelijke eisen voldoen.
Directive (= richtlijn): a law that binds the Member States to achieve a particular objective.
• Must be transposed into national law to become effective.
• Directive specifies the result to be achieved à it’s up to the Member States
individually to decide how this is done vb. Consumentenrechten.
Decision (= besluiten): can be addressed to Member States, groups of people or even
individuals.
• It’s binding in its entirety à bindend voor degene tot wie het gericht is.
• Are used to e.g. rule on proposed mergers between companies.
• Vb. deelname EU aan vss organisaties voor terrorismebestrijding à besluit geldt
enkel voor die organisaties.
Recommendations (= aanbevelingen) and opinions (= adviezen): have no binding force.
How is legislation passed?
Every European law is based on a specific treaty article referred to as the legal basis of the
legislation à determines which legislative procedure must be followed.
The treaty sets out the decision-making process, including Commission proposals, successive
readings by the Council and Parliament, and the opinions of the advisory bodies. Also lays
down when unanimity is required, and when a qualified majority is sufficient for the Council
to adopt legislation.
The great majority of EU legislation is adopted using the ordinary legislative procedure: in
this procedure, the Parliament and the Council share legislative power.
2
, Naomi Bordon
Chapter 3: EU Institutions
1. European Parliament
2. European Council
3. Council (of Ministers)
4. European Commission
5. Court of Justice
6. European Central Bank
7. The European Court of Auditors
8. The European Economic and Social Committee
9. The Committee of the Regions
3
Summary European & International Law
Introduction to European Law
Chapter 1: structure of the EU Treaties
The rule of law (rechtsstaat waarin ook overheid aan wetten onderworpen is): every action
taken by the EU is founded on treaties that have been agreed by all EU countries and ratified
by their parliaments or by referendum.
• Essential concept that defends us against non-found decisions.
• Essential concept of democracy.
Only 6 countries started the European Union à Post WWII reconciliation.
Why was it important that Spain and Portugal joined in 1982? Those two countries weren’t
democracies, but dictatorial regimes until the mid ‘70’s. So, they joined really fast after
turning into a democracy.
Private international law: that part of the law that indicates which jurisdiction needs to be
applicated in conflicts of jurisdiction law of a country we have to apply.
Red weeks = the plenary session weeks.
The treaties lay down:
• The objectives of the European Union e.g. culture and traffic aren’t an objective
• The rules for EU institutions
• How decisions are made
• Relationship between the EU and its Member States
They have been amended (= gewijzigd):
• Each time new Member States have joined.
o Started out with only 6: Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Italy, France
and Germany à post WWII reconciliation.
• To reform the European Union’s institutions and to give it new areas of responsibility
• Last amending treaty: Lisbon Treaty
Core treaties:
• Treaty on European Union: basis of EU law (TEU)
• Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU): Verdrag van Rome à
hiermee werd EEG gevestigd, voorloper van de Europese Unie.
Chapter 2: Powers of the European Union – sources of EU law
Who takes the decisions?
• European Parliament: represents the EU’s citizens and is directly elected by them.
• European Council
1
,Naomi Bordon
o Consists of the Heads of State or Government
o Defines the general political direction and priorities
• Council: represents the governments of the EU Member States.
• European Commission: represents the interests of the EU as a whole.
Types of legislation (= wetgeving)
Regulation (= verordening): a law that is applicable and binding in all Member States directly.
• It does not need to be passed into national law by the Member States.
• National laws may need to be changed to avoid conflicting with the regulation.
• Vb. ingevoerde goederen die van buiten de EU komen, moeten aan bepaalde
gemeenschappelijke eisen voldoen.
Directive (= richtlijn): a law that binds the Member States to achieve a particular objective.
• Must be transposed into national law to become effective.
• Directive specifies the result to be achieved à it’s up to the Member States
individually to decide how this is done vb. Consumentenrechten.
Decision (= besluiten): can be addressed to Member States, groups of people or even
individuals.
• It’s binding in its entirety à bindend voor degene tot wie het gericht is.
• Are used to e.g. rule on proposed mergers between companies.
• Vb. deelname EU aan vss organisaties voor terrorismebestrijding à besluit geldt
enkel voor die organisaties.
Recommendations (= aanbevelingen) and opinions (= adviezen): have no binding force.
How is legislation passed?
Every European law is based on a specific treaty article referred to as the legal basis of the
legislation à determines which legislative procedure must be followed.
The treaty sets out the decision-making process, including Commission proposals, successive
readings by the Council and Parliament, and the opinions of the advisory bodies. Also lays
down when unanimity is required, and when a qualified majority is sufficient for the Council
to adopt legislation.
The great majority of EU legislation is adopted using the ordinary legislative procedure: in
this procedure, the Parliament and the Council share legislative power.
2
, Naomi Bordon
Chapter 3: EU Institutions
1. European Parliament
2. European Council
3. Council (of Ministers)
4. European Commission
5. Court of Justice
6. European Central Bank
7. The European Court of Auditors
8. The European Economic and Social Committee
9. The Committee of the Regions
3
