What Is EU Law?

EU law refers to the body of law that applies within the European Union. It is made up of a variety of legal instruments, including treaties, regulations, directives, decisions, and opinions. EU law has primacy over national laws in areas where the EU has jurisdiction, such as trade, competition, and the environment.

The legal framework of the EU is based on the treaties that have been ratified by its member states. The primary sources of EU law are the Treaty on European Union (TEU) and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), which establish the institutions of the EU and define its powers.

Regulations are directly applicable in all member states and do not require transposition into national law. Directives, on the other hand, set out goals that member states must achieve, but leave it up to the national authorities to decide how to implement them.

Decisions are binding on the parties to whom they are addressed, while opinions are not legally binding. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) is responsible for interpreting and applying EU law, and its judgments are binding on all EU member states.
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