EU legislation

Question 1

What does Acquis Communautaire mean?

Answer 1

Before becoming a member state of the EU, the UK agreed to accept the cumulative body of EU law.

Question 2

What did this mean for the UK?

Answer 2

All existing EU legislation will be copied across into domestic UK law.
The UK Parliament can amend, repeal and improve individual laws as necessary.

Question 3

What does primary legislation consist of?

Answer 3

Primary legislation consists of the EU Treaties and the general principles of EU Law

Question 4

What are the three main EU Treaties?

Answer 4

◦ The European Coal and Steel Commmunity (ECSC)
◦ The European Economic Community (EEC)
◦ The European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom)

Question 5

What are the current treaties in the UK?

Answer 5

 The Treaty on European Union (TEU)

 The Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU)

Question 6

What do Treaties contain?

Answer 6

They contain all of the important policies upon which the European Union is based, which means every action taken by the EU is based on the Treaties. Promote equality, combat discrimination, and provide environmental protection.

Question 7

How do EU Treaties vary from UK Treaties?

Answer 7

 They are very ‘skeletal’ in nature.

 They have ‘articles’ not ‘sections’, and lots of other things that you don’t find in Acts of Parliament.

Question 8

What are the Key Components of a EU Treaty?

Answer 8

	Preamble
	Titles
	Chapters
	Articles
	Protocols
	Annexes
	Declarations

Question 9

What are the two series of the Official journal?

Answer 9

1. The L series, which contains EU legislation.
2. The C series, which contains reports and announcements including the judgments of the European Court of Justice and the General Court.

Question 10

What are the general principles of EU Law?

Answer 10

 liberty,
 democracy,
 respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and
 the rule of law.