EU LAW – COMPREHENSION EXERCISES
1. The Competences of the European Union
TFEU
The competences of the European Union are based on the principle of conferral: the EU may
only act within the powers granted to it by the Treaties. There are three main categories of
competences.
Competence= Is the power of the EU to undertake a certain action. You can find these in the
Treaties.
Exclusive competences are areas where only the EU may legislate, such as the customs
union, competition rules for the internal market, monetary policy for eurozone countries,
the common commercial policy, and the conservation of marine biological resources.
Shared competences are fields where both the EU and the Member States may legislate.
These include the internal market, the environment, transport, agriculture and fisheries,
consumer protection, energy, and the area of freedom, security and justice. Member States
may act only when the EU has not chosen to exercise its competence.
Supporting competences are areas where the EU may only coordinate or supplement
national policies. These areas include public health, culture, tourism, education, civil
protection, and industry. Member States
The principles of subsidiarity and proportionality apply to shared competences: the EU may
act only when objectives cannot be achieved sufficiently by Member States, and any EU
action must not exceed what is necessary.
1. The Competences of the European Union
TFEU
The competences of the European Union are based on the principle of conferral: the EU may
only act within the powers granted to it by the Treaties. There are three main categories of
competences.
Competence= Is the power of the EU to undertake a certain action. You can find these in the
Treaties.
Exclusive competences are areas where only the EU may legislate, such as the customs
union, competition rules for the internal market, monetary policy for eurozone countries,
the common commercial policy, and the conservation of marine biological resources.
Shared competences are fields where both the EU and the Member States may legislate.
These include the internal market, the environment, transport, agriculture and fisheries,
consumer protection, energy, and the area of freedom, security and justice. Member States
may act only when the EU has not chosen to exercise its competence.
Supporting competences are areas where the EU may only coordinate or supplement
national policies. These areas include public health, culture, tourism, education, civil
protection, and industry. Member States
The principles of subsidiarity and proportionality apply to shared competences: the EU may
act only when objectives cannot be achieved sufficiently by Member States, and any EU
action must not exceed what is necessary.
