EUrettsakter

EUrettsakter are the binding legal acts adopted within the European Union that form the sources of EU law. They are typically divided into primary law and secondary law, and they include both binding and non-binding instruments. They are published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Primary law consists of the foundational treaties that establish the EU’s competences, institutions, and principles. The core examples are the Treaty on European Union (TEU) and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), along with amendments to these treaties. Primary law provides the framework within which all other EU acts operate and can only be changed through further treaty amendments or agreed intergovernmental processes.

Secondary law covers acts that implement or specify how the treaties are applied. Regulations are directly applicable in all member states without transposition. Directives set objectives to be achieved and require member states to transpose them into national law. Decisions are binding on those addressed, such as member states or specific companies. Recommendations and opinions are non-binding. The EU also uses delegated acts and implementing acts to specify details under the mandate of the Commission and, in some cases, other institutions.

The overall purpose of EUrettsakter is to create uniform rules across the union, regulate relations between member states and individuals, and provide a legal framework for EU policies. They are enforceable in the courts of the EU, including the Court of Justice, and are accessible through EUR-Lex.