EU Law Flashcards
What is the primary source of EU law?
Treaties
What is a treaty?
A document setting out the broad principles of EU law
Who are all treaties signed by to become part of our English law?
Our head of government
What does the European Communities Act 1972 do to the law?
Makes EU law part of the English law automatically
Who can rely on the principles of the treaties even if they have not been enacted into English law?
All citizens of the EU
What is direct applicability?
Even if it is not part of the EU law citizens can rely on it
What was the case involving a treaty in Van Duyn v Home Office 1974?
The home office refused claimant access to the UK because she was a member of a religious group they wanted to exclude. She argued this went against the TFEU on freedom of movement as she had done nothing to justify exclusion, she was allowed in UK
What can UK citizens rely on the rights of?
TFEU (treaty of the functioning of the EU)
What happened in Macarthus Ltd. v Smith 1980?
Wendy Smiths employers paid her less than her male predecessor for the same job, she was paid £50pw and him £60pw, EJC said she was able to claim that her employer was in breach of TFEU on equal pay for men & women
What happened in Diocese of Hallam Trustee v Connaughton 1996?
Connaughton had been employed as a director of music by D of H. Her final salary was £11,138 but when she left job was advertised for £13,434, the successful candidate was appointed for £20,000. Article 57 TFEU decided Miss Connaughton could make a claim without further appeal to the EJC.
What do the 3 treaty cases show us?
These cases show us that even if a treaty hadn’t been directed into EU law citizens can still rely on them
What are secondary sources of EU law?
Enable Broad principles of treaties to be transformed into concrete law
THEY ARE THE DETAILED FRAMEWORK OF TE TREATY
What are the 2 secondary sources of EU law?
Regulations & directives
How to regulations become applicable on member states?
They are automatically part of English law
What is the aim of a regulation?
To achieve uniformity of law in all member states
When was the direct applicability tested in the UK?
Tachographs Commission v United Kingdom 1979
What happened in Tachographs Commission v United Kingdom 1979?
EU issued a regulation saying tachographs had to be installed in lories. Uk government decided not to implement this and leave decision to lorry owners. Matter was refereed to EJC who said member states could not pick and choose as it was binding
What are directives designed to achieve?
Harmony between member states