Summary An Introduction to the EU Legal Order - International and European Law (chapter 3)

2024-2025




CHAPTER 3
THE EU SYSTEM OF LEGAL NORMS


KATRIEN VANDENPLAS

,Contents
3.1. the primary legal framework ............................................................................... 3
3.1.1. the EU treaties ............................................................................................ 3
3.1.1.1. functions of the EU treaties .................................................................... 3
3.1.1.2. actions and restraints under the EU treaties ............................................ 4
3.1.1.3. general features of EU law applied to the EU treaties ............................... 4
3.1.2. other norms of primary law .......................................................................... 5
3.1.3. fundamental rights ...................................................................................... 5
3.1.3.1. two main sources of protection .............................................................. 5
3.1.3.2. the new star: the CFEU .......................................................................... 6
3.1.3.3. the odd one out: the ECHR ..................................................................... 6
3.1.3.4. interaction between the various sources ................................................. 7
3.1.3.5. scope of application of EU fundamental rights ........................................ 7
3.2. the existence of an EU competence .................................................................... 8
3.2.1. the principle of conferral .............................................................................. 8
3.2.2. the legal basis ............................................................................................. 9
3.2.2.1. important functions .............................................................................. 9
3.2.2.2. challenges with identification of the legal basis ....................................... 9
3.2.3. the dynamics of EU competences .............................................................. 11
3.2.3.1.article 114 TFEU: a particularly dynamic legal basis................................ 11
3.2.3.2. implied powers ................................................................................... 12
3.2.3.3. article 352 TFEU: the flexibility clause ................................................... 13
3.2.3.4. delegation of powers to private or public organs .................................... 14
3.2.4. the politics of EU competences .................................................................. 15
3.3. the types of EU competences ........................................................................... 16
3.3.1. exclusive competences ............................................................................. 16
3.3.2. supporting, coordinating or supplementary competences ............................ 16
3.3.3. shared competences ................................................................................. 16
3.3.4. the odd ones out ....................................................................................... 17
3.4. the exercise of an EU competence .................................................................... 18
3.4.1. subsidiarity ............................................................................................... 18
3.4.2. proportionality .......................................................................................... 19

1
Katrien Vandenplas

, 3.4.3. mainstreaming duties ................................................................................ 19
3.5. sources of law derived from the EU treaties ....................................................... 20
3.5.1. the starting point ....................................................................................... 20
3.5.1.1. EU treaties, norms of equal value and the family tree ............................. 20
3.5.1.2. the EU legal order does not exist in a vacuum ........................................ 20
3.5.2. the role of the court of justice of the European union ................................... 21
3.5.3. derived law ............................................................................................... 22
3.5.3.1. external action .................................................................................... 22
3.5.3.2. internal action .................................................................................... 24
3.5.3.3. other modes of action ......................................................................... 27
3.6. procedures for the adoption of EU acts .......................................................... 27
3.6.1. internal action ........................................................................................... 27
3.6.1.1. acts of secondary law .......................................................................... 27
3.6.1.2. acts of tertiary law ............................................................................... 31
3.6.1.3. institutional cooperation, transparency and publication ........................ 32
3.6.2. external action .......................................................................................... 33
3.6.2.1. (ordinary) procedure for the adoption of international agreements.......... 33
3.6.2.2. acts in the context of the CFSP ............................................................. 33
3.6.3. Financial provisions ................................................................................... 34
3.6.3.1. own resources decision ....................................................................... 34
3.6.3.2. multiannual financial framework .......................................................... 34
3.6.3.3. annual budget..................................................................................... 35
3.6.3.4. institutional cooperation and transparency ........................................... 35
3.6.4. the institutional history of an EU act............................................................ 35




2
Katrien Vandenplas

, Chapter 3: the EU system of legal norms
3.1. the primary legal framework
Treaties => set out the boundaries of the EU legal order

3.1.1. the EU treaties
3.1.1.1. functions of the EU treaties
The treaties and the modes of action of EU law

➢ Main functions of the EU Treaties (as the central instrument of EU primary law) in
the EU legal system:
o 1. identifies sources with equivalent legal rank
o 2. sets up the rules for the functioning of the EU legal system
▪ eg. See Chapter II Institutions
• the institutional design and procedures for decision making
at EU level
▪ 30 TFEU
o 3. defines fundamental objectives, principles and rules of EU substantive
law (eg. 30 TFEU)
▪ Such as those ensuring the functioning of the internal market and
the monetary union
o 4. defines the existence and the modalities for the exercise of EU
competences
▪ Which allow the principles and rules set out therein to be
complemented by and implemented through acts derived from the
EU treaties




3
Katrien Vandenplas