The

European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated total population of about 447million. The EU has often been des ...

uses a range of legal instruments to implement policy, varied across two major decision-making processes

co-decision The European Union adopts legislation through a variety of legislative procedures. The procedure used for a given legislative proposal depends on the policy area in question. Most legislation needs to be proposed by the European Commission and ...

and

cooperation procedure The cooperation procedure (formally known as the Article 252 procedure) was one of the principal legislative procedures of the European Community, before the entrance into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam. It was retained after that treaty but onl ...

Green Paper

Green Papers are usually used to launch a

consultation Consultation may refer to: * Public consultation, a process by which the public's input on matters affecting them is sought * Consultation (Texas), the 1835 Texas meeting of colonists on a proposed rebellion against the Republic of Mexico * Consul ...

process. They present Commission policy orientations for debate to interested parties who may wish to comment. The Commission will generally prepare a subsequent proposal.

White Paper

White Papers communicate a decided Commission policy or approach on a particular issue. They are chiefly intended as statements of Commission policy, rather than a consultation or starting point for debate.

Communication

Communications usually set out a Commission action plan (may include concrete proposals for legislation).

Regulation

Regulations, once approved, are immediately applicable and binding in all EU member states. No legislation is required at a national government level.

Directive

Directives occur when a decision at an EU level is used to ''direct'' member state governments what to do. Directives specify the results to be achieved and the deadline within which to achieve them, but form and methods of implementation are left at the discretion of member states.

Recommendation

Recommendations are similar in structure to Directives but they do not hold any legal obligation. There are often described as ''

soft law The term ''soft law'' refers to quasi-legal instruments (like recommendations or guidelines) which do not have any legally binding force, or whose binding force is somewhat weaker than the binding force of traditional law. Soft law is often contras ...

'', and the Commission has been accused of using Recommendations to avoid lengthy and politically sensitive consultations.

Decision

Decisions (by

Council A council is a group of people who come together to consult, deliberate, or make decisions. A council may function as a legislature, especially at a town, city or county/shire level, but most legislative bodies at the state/provincial or natio ...

or Commission) apply specifically to one or more member states and are directly binding.

References

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External links

Official European Union website
Politics of the European Union