Acquis

Acquis is a French term meaning “that which has been acquired,” and in English-language legal and political discourse it is often used in two related senses. In European Union law, the acquis (often spoken of as the acquis communautaire or simply the acquis) denotes the sum of rights and obligations that bind all EU member states. It encompasses primary law (the EU treaties), secondary legislation (regulations, directives, decisions), case law from the European Court of Justice, and the general principles of EU law as recognized by the Court. The acquis evolves as new treaties are negotiated, new laws are adopted, and new jurisprudence develops, and it is binding on current members as well as candidate or potential member states.

The role of the acquis is central to EU enlargement. When a country seeks membership, it must demonstrate that it can adopt, transpose, implement, and enforce the acquis. Negotiations assess the candidate’s readiness to align national law and institutions with EU requirements across areas such as internal market rules, competition policy, environment, consumer protection, and justice and home affairs. Accession requires not only formal adoption of legislation but effective administration and enforcement to ensure ongoing compliance with evolving EU standards.

In a broader legal context, acquired rights or “acquis” can also refer to entitlements that have been obtained under existing laws or contracts, which may continue to influence legal protections and obligations under new regimes.