European Union Law

EU LA

EU MEMBERSHIP AND WITHDRAWAL; TREATY AMENDMENT.................13

Introduction to the EU.........................................................................................................................................13
Legal characterisation........................................................................................................................................13
Central themes to the development of the EEC to the EU.................................................................................13
History of the EU’s development.......................................................................................................................14
Key institutions..................................................................................................................................................14


THE EU HAS A VISION OF FOUR FREEDOMS: FREE MOVEMENT OF
GOODS, SERVICES, CAPITAL AND LABOUR..........................................14

Accession, Suspension and Withdrawal.............................................................................................................16
Accession..........................................................................................................................................................16


HOWEVER, IN 1993 THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL LAID DOWN THE
‘COPENHAGEN CRITERIA’ FOR ACCESSION:.........................................16
Suspension.........................................................................................................................................................16
Withdrawal.........................................................................................................................................................17
State-centred vs EU-driven................................................................................................................................18
European integration..........................................................................................................................................18

Reform, Revisions and Referendums.................................................................................................................19
Background........................................................................................................................................................19
Current process..................................................................................................................................................19


THE ORDINARY REVISION PROCEDURE IS FORMALISED IN ART 48(2)-(5)
TEU:.................................................................................................19
Domestic treaty approval...................................................................................................................................20
Evaluation..........................................................................................................................................................21


LAW-MAKING IN THE EU: COMPETENCE AND CONSTITUTIONAL
CONSTRAINTS..................................................................................22

Sources of Law......................................................................................................................................................22


EU LAW DERIVES FROM PRIMARY AND SECONDARY LAW, WITHIN WHICH
THERE IS A HIERARCHY OF NORMS....................................................22
Primary law........................................................................................................................................................22
Secondary law....................................................................................................................................................22


ALL THESE ARE FOUND IN ART 288 TFEU............................................22
Hierarchy of Norms...........................................................................................................................................24

Conferral...............................................................................................................................................................24
Types of EU competence...................................................................................................................................25
Choice of legal basis..........................................................................................................................................26

Subsidiarity...........................................................................................................................................................28

Proportionality......................................................................................................................................................28

Subsidiarity and Proportionality in practice.....................................................................................................29



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