EUasetusten

EUasetusten is the Finnish term used to refer to the body of European Union regulations. In EU law, a regulation is a binding legal act that applies directly in all member states without the need for national transposition. This makes EUasetusten distinct from directives, which set goals that member states must achieve but require national authorities to implement through national law. Regulations are adopted by the European Parliament and the Council through the ordinary legislative procedure, on the basis of the Treaties, and they enter into force on dates specified in the text.

Because they are directly applicable across the Union, EUasetusten provide harmonized rules and legal certainty for the internal market, consumer protection, public safety, data protection, and other policy areas. They often preclude divergent national rules on the same matter, though national authorities may interpret and enforce them within the framework set by the Regulation. Individuals and businesses can generally rely on EUasetusten before national courts, a feature known as direct effect.

Notable examples include the General Data Protection Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2016/679) on data protection, the REACH Regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006) governing chemicals, and the Cosmetics Regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009). While EUasetusten promote a unified legal standard, they can also raise concerns about sovereignty, regulatory burden, and the pace of adaptation for national administrations.