Primary & Secondary EU Law

Every action taken by the European Union (EU) is legally founded on its treaties. Those are binding agreements reached amongst all EU Member Countries which determine the EU objectives and the duties allocated for every EU body, as well as decide how decisions are to be made and the binding relationship between the EU and its Estate Members is to be governed. The EU treaties are amended from time to time in order to improve and give further responsibilities to the EU institutions and, when appropriate, to allow new prospective countries to join the EU. Treaties are known as primary law.

The basis of Law resulting from the application of the principles and aims set out in the treaties is known as secondary law and includes different types of legal tools such as regulations, directives, decisions, recommendations and opinions.