EUROPEAN LAW
1. CHAPTER 1: THE FOUNDATIONS OF EU LAW
2. CHAPTER 2: THE ACTORS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION’S INTEGRATION PROCESS
3. CHAPTER 3: THE EU SYSTEM OF LEGAL NORMS
4. CHAPTER 4: THE UNIQUE NATURA OF THE EU LEGAL ORDER
CHAPTER 1: THE FOUNDATIONS OF EU LAW
I – EUROPEAN INTEGRATION: OBJECTIVES, PRINCIPLES AND VALUES:
Essential purpose of European Union (‘EU’): ART. 1, §2 of the Treaty on European Union (‘TEU’)
= ‘an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe’
Two founding principles (ART. 4 TEU):
1. Equality of the Member States (respect for national identities)
- No discrimination on grounds of nationality (for example, between workers)
- Equal representation of the States
Equality also applies between citizens of every Member State
2. Sincere cooperation
- Acting according to the principle of good faith
Member States have been expected to jointly contribute to achieving the objectives
of the process of EU integration, as agreed upon in EU Treaties
They must fulfill their obligations and help achieve objectives they must refrain
from any measure which could jeapardise the attentiveness of the EU’s objectives
- Member States shall ensure the fulfilment of their obligations and facilitate the
achievement off the EU’s objectives
A set of values: common to the MS + foundations of the EU
‘The Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the
rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities.
These values are common to the Member States in a society in which pluralism, non – discrimination,
tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men prevail’ (ART. 2 TEU)
o ‘Complementary’ source: ART. 6 TEU
o All MS recognize the founding values necessary presumption: ‘mutual trust’
- We can assume all the Member States comply with the values on which the EU is funded
- One member of the EU must trust that other members comply with the values of ART. 2
This is a presumption, not an absolute truth!
o Renewed attention: risks of serious breaches of the rule of law in Poland and Hungary
,II – A UNIQUE FORM OF REGIONAL INTEGRATION:
Forms of economic integration:
A. Free trade area: free movement of goods and services without a fee related to crossing the
border of the contracting parties (the Member States of the EU)
- Bringing together a number of participating States and bringing together the barriers to
trade (for example: allowing trading goods without charging discriminatory taxes)
- Eliminating barriers and borders between the participating States
- A group of customs territories in which duties and other regulations having a restrictive
effect on commerce, are eliminated on alle trade between the consistuent territories
B. ‘Customs Union’: douane – unie
- Looks at the external dimension of the free trade area
- Next degree (+ 1 free trade area)
Not only a free trade area, but also apply the same duties and regulations of
commerce to the trade of territories from outside of the contracting parties
- The States have free trade between them, but they also decide to have a common
approach to external trade
Free trade inside + common approach to customs outside
For example: the same sanitary controles
C. ‘Common market’: free trade area + customs union, and within common standards are
developed (par example: free movement of persons, goods and capital)
- Free movement of all factors of production
D. ‘Internal market’: an area without internal frontiers in which the free movement of persons,
services, goods, and capital is ensured
- Requires the abolition of all internal frontiers
- Facilitates even more the working of the common market, because you are not being
hindered while crossing the borders
Internal market = an area without internal frontiers in which the free movement of goods, persons,
services and capital is ensured
The EU is a broader political project (much broader economic, social and political project than those
traditional forms of regional economic integration):
o Fundamental status of EU citizen
- If you are a national of a member State, you are an EU citizen!
Gives you specific political rights
o Common economic and monetary policy
o An area of freedom, security and justice
o A common foreign and security policy
,The EU co – exists with other regional organizations in Europe:
o European Free Trade Association (‘EFTA’): Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland
- Objective: promoting a continued, balanced strengthening of trade - economic relations
o European Economic Area (‘EEA’): 3 EFTA States (not CH) + EU
- Brings the EFTA States closer to the process of EU – integration, and its internal market
- Objective: to promote continuous and balanced strengthening of trade and economic
relations between the EU and said EFTA States
- EEA has a close relationship with Norway and Switzerland
Norway: has arrangements with EU going beyond economic forms of integration
Switzerland: has many bilateral treaties with the EU
o See also: EU – CH & EU – UK
- The UK is nor an EFTA – State, nor an EU – State
In the withdrawal agreement, in which certain EU – rights are ensured to continue
The key objective of the Union is to achieve an ever-closer union, two of the key principles are equality between
the member States en sincere coöperation and in ART. 2 TEU we can find the values. The EU is a very advanced
form of integration, not only economic but also political. It interacts, as many other international organisations,
at regional level and across the globe.
What makes the EU special as a form of regional integration?
Not only its political ambition, but also the tool that it has!
o ‘Intergovernmental’ method: agreements between states are concluded by representatives
of the governments of the contracting parties implementation of those agreements via
the intergovernmental method
- To make law at international level (representatives of the governments meet)
- Traditional way of starting an international law – project
o ‘Supranational’ method or ‘community’ method
- This system goes beyond the interest of each individual State party
Makes space for interests of the State parties and the idea of common good
- Developed in the context of the EU the EU was called ‘European Community’ – that’s
why it’s called the community method
Community method: empowering institutions at supranational level to balance
various interests and work towards the general interest of the EU
- Empowering institutions at supranational level to balance the various interests, and to
work toward the general interests of the Union
- Different of a traditional intergovernmental way of making law because it relies on two
sets om mechanisms:
1. Set of anonymous and independent institutions
2. Effect of the rules that are adopted by the EU – organs: no need for transformation
(automatically applicable)
o ‘Integration trough law’: the centrality of the Treaties on the European Union, in the process
of European integration (creating rules at EU – level has been central in establishment of EU)
The EU – institutions:
A. The European Parliament (ART. 14 TEU):
- Members directly elected by EU citizens
- Co – decides EU budget + co – legislator + organ of political control
Main function is to be a co – legislator with the Council
Co – decider when it comes to deciding the annual budget
, B. The European Council (ART. 15 TEU):
- Heads of State of Government + own president + Commission’s President
- Impetus + general political directions and priorities
Organ that gives political impetus
Organ that identificies general political directions and priorities
C. The Council (ART. 16 TEU):
- Representatives of the Member States at ministerial level
- (Co -) decides the EU budget + co – legislator + role in policy – making and coördination
D. The Commission (ART. 17 TEU):
- Independent members promoting the EU general interest
Meant to act in general interest op the Union
- Proposes legislation + ensure application of the EU law
Mother and guardian of the EU law
E. The Court of Justice of the European Union (ART. 19 TEU):
- Composed of independent members (judges)
- Ensuring that, in the interpretation and application of the Treaties, EU law is observed
III – EVOLUTION:
EEC created by ‘Treaty establishing the European Economic Community’
Signature in Rome (1957) – by the 6 initial Member States that’s why it’s also called the Treaty of
Rome this treaty has been subject to several amendments adjusting political ambition, material
scope of action and tools of integration (EEC becomes EU).
Integration:
o Treaty reforms (political objectives, material scope of action, tools)
o Enlargements (increasement of the number of participating States):
- Accession of new Member States
6 Member States 27 Member States (today)
Let’s take a few steps back, before the Treaty of Rome!
Towards the European Economic Community (‘EEC’):
o Zürich (1946) – speech: Churchill calling for a kind of United States of Europe
o Aftermaths of WW II: several initiatives to stimulate cooperation among European States
- The Council of Europe (1949): signing the European Convention for the Protection of
Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR – 1950) and setting up the
European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR)
Don’t confuse this with the European Council!
o Paris (1950): The Schuman Declaration
- Statement saying that we needed to be very brave and bringing the former enemies back
together, and creating economic integration with the view of bringing people together
o Paris (1951): Treaty established the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC)
- Form of regional economic integration, creating free trade in one particular field
o No community for defence!
The European Economic Community and other communities:
o The European Economic Community:
- Treaty established the European Economic Community (EEC, Treaty of Rome – 1957)
- Much broader economic scope, not just coal and steel
1. CHAPTER 1: THE FOUNDATIONS OF EU LAW
2. CHAPTER 2: THE ACTORS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION’S INTEGRATION PROCESS
3. CHAPTER 3: THE EU SYSTEM OF LEGAL NORMS
4. CHAPTER 4: THE UNIQUE NATURA OF THE EU LEGAL ORDER
CHAPTER 1: THE FOUNDATIONS OF EU LAW
I – EUROPEAN INTEGRATION: OBJECTIVES, PRINCIPLES AND VALUES:
Essential purpose of European Union (‘EU’): ART. 1, §2 of the Treaty on European Union (‘TEU’)
= ‘an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe’
Two founding principles (ART. 4 TEU):
1. Equality of the Member States (respect for national identities)
- No discrimination on grounds of nationality (for example, between workers)
- Equal representation of the States
Equality also applies between citizens of every Member State
2. Sincere cooperation
- Acting according to the principle of good faith
Member States have been expected to jointly contribute to achieving the objectives
of the process of EU integration, as agreed upon in EU Treaties
They must fulfill their obligations and help achieve objectives they must refrain
from any measure which could jeapardise the attentiveness of the EU’s objectives
- Member States shall ensure the fulfilment of their obligations and facilitate the
achievement off the EU’s objectives
A set of values: common to the MS + foundations of the EU
‘The Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the
rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities.
These values are common to the Member States in a society in which pluralism, non – discrimination,
tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men prevail’ (ART. 2 TEU)
o ‘Complementary’ source: ART. 6 TEU
o All MS recognize the founding values necessary presumption: ‘mutual trust’
- We can assume all the Member States comply with the values on which the EU is funded
- One member of the EU must trust that other members comply with the values of ART. 2
This is a presumption, not an absolute truth!
o Renewed attention: risks of serious breaches of the rule of law in Poland and Hungary
,II – A UNIQUE FORM OF REGIONAL INTEGRATION:
Forms of economic integration:
A. Free trade area: free movement of goods and services without a fee related to crossing the
border of the contracting parties (the Member States of the EU)
- Bringing together a number of participating States and bringing together the barriers to
trade (for example: allowing trading goods without charging discriminatory taxes)
- Eliminating barriers and borders between the participating States
- A group of customs territories in which duties and other regulations having a restrictive
effect on commerce, are eliminated on alle trade between the consistuent territories
B. ‘Customs Union’: douane – unie
- Looks at the external dimension of the free trade area
- Next degree (+ 1 free trade area)
Not only a free trade area, but also apply the same duties and regulations of
commerce to the trade of territories from outside of the contracting parties
- The States have free trade between them, but they also decide to have a common
approach to external trade
Free trade inside + common approach to customs outside
For example: the same sanitary controles
C. ‘Common market’: free trade area + customs union, and within common standards are
developed (par example: free movement of persons, goods and capital)
- Free movement of all factors of production
D. ‘Internal market’: an area without internal frontiers in which the free movement of persons,
services, goods, and capital is ensured
- Requires the abolition of all internal frontiers
- Facilitates even more the working of the common market, because you are not being
hindered while crossing the borders
Internal market = an area without internal frontiers in which the free movement of goods, persons,
services and capital is ensured
The EU is a broader political project (much broader economic, social and political project than those
traditional forms of regional economic integration):
o Fundamental status of EU citizen
- If you are a national of a member State, you are an EU citizen!
Gives you specific political rights
o Common economic and monetary policy
o An area of freedom, security and justice
o A common foreign and security policy
,The EU co – exists with other regional organizations in Europe:
o European Free Trade Association (‘EFTA’): Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland
- Objective: promoting a continued, balanced strengthening of trade - economic relations
o European Economic Area (‘EEA’): 3 EFTA States (not CH) + EU
- Brings the EFTA States closer to the process of EU – integration, and its internal market
- Objective: to promote continuous and balanced strengthening of trade and economic
relations between the EU and said EFTA States
- EEA has a close relationship with Norway and Switzerland
Norway: has arrangements with EU going beyond economic forms of integration
Switzerland: has many bilateral treaties with the EU
o See also: EU – CH & EU – UK
- The UK is nor an EFTA – State, nor an EU – State
In the withdrawal agreement, in which certain EU – rights are ensured to continue
The key objective of the Union is to achieve an ever-closer union, two of the key principles are equality between
the member States en sincere coöperation and in ART. 2 TEU we can find the values. The EU is a very advanced
form of integration, not only economic but also political. It interacts, as many other international organisations,
at regional level and across the globe.
What makes the EU special as a form of regional integration?
Not only its political ambition, but also the tool that it has!
o ‘Intergovernmental’ method: agreements between states are concluded by representatives
of the governments of the contracting parties implementation of those agreements via
the intergovernmental method
- To make law at international level (representatives of the governments meet)
- Traditional way of starting an international law – project
o ‘Supranational’ method or ‘community’ method
- This system goes beyond the interest of each individual State party
Makes space for interests of the State parties and the idea of common good
- Developed in the context of the EU the EU was called ‘European Community’ – that’s
why it’s called the community method
Community method: empowering institutions at supranational level to balance
various interests and work towards the general interest of the EU
- Empowering institutions at supranational level to balance the various interests, and to
work toward the general interests of the Union
- Different of a traditional intergovernmental way of making law because it relies on two
sets om mechanisms:
1. Set of anonymous and independent institutions
2. Effect of the rules that are adopted by the EU – organs: no need for transformation
(automatically applicable)
o ‘Integration trough law’: the centrality of the Treaties on the European Union, in the process
of European integration (creating rules at EU – level has been central in establishment of EU)
The EU – institutions:
A. The European Parliament (ART. 14 TEU):
- Members directly elected by EU citizens
- Co – decides EU budget + co – legislator + organ of political control
Main function is to be a co – legislator with the Council
Co – decider when it comes to deciding the annual budget
, B. The European Council (ART. 15 TEU):
- Heads of State of Government + own president + Commission’s President
- Impetus + general political directions and priorities
Organ that gives political impetus
Organ that identificies general political directions and priorities
C. The Council (ART. 16 TEU):
- Representatives of the Member States at ministerial level
- (Co -) decides the EU budget + co – legislator + role in policy – making and coördination
D. The Commission (ART. 17 TEU):
- Independent members promoting the EU general interest
Meant to act in general interest op the Union
- Proposes legislation + ensure application of the EU law
Mother and guardian of the EU law
E. The Court of Justice of the European Union (ART. 19 TEU):
- Composed of independent members (judges)
- Ensuring that, in the interpretation and application of the Treaties, EU law is observed
III – EVOLUTION:
EEC created by ‘Treaty establishing the European Economic Community’
Signature in Rome (1957) – by the 6 initial Member States that’s why it’s also called the Treaty of
Rome this treaty has been subject to several amendments adjusting political ambition, material
scope of action and tools of integration (EEC becomes EU).
Integration:
o Treaty reforms (political objectives, material scope of action, tools)
o Enlargements (increasement of the number of participating States):
- Accession of new Member States
6 Member States 27 Member States (today)
Let’s take a few steps back, before the Treaty of Rome!
Towards the European Economic Community (‘EEC’):
o Zürich (1946) – speech: Churchill calling for a kind of United States of Europe
o Aftermaths of WW II: several initiatives to stimulate cooperation among European States
- The Council of Europe (1949): signing the European Convention for the Protection of
Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR – 1950) and setting up the
European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR)
Don’t confuse this with the European Council!
o Paris (1950): The Schuman Declaration
- Statement saying that we needed to be very brave and bringing the former enemies back
together, and creating economic integration with the view of bringing people together
o Paris (1951): Treaty established the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC)
- Form of regional economic integration, creating free trade in one particular field
o No community for defence!
The European Economic Community and other communities:
o The European Economic Community:
- Treaty established the European Economic Community (EEC, Treaty of Rome – 1957)
- Much broader economic scope, not just coal and steel
