HOW
EU LAWS
ARE MADE
EU law impacts your daily life in many ways.
EU law guarantees your rights,
protects you,
and gives you opportunities.
The EU creates laws through different procedures. The most common one is the "ordinary legislative procedure".
EU law impacts your daily life in many ways.
EU law guarantees your rights,
protects you,
and gives you opportunities.
The EU creates laws through different procedures. The most common one is the "ordinary legislative procedure".
Who is involved?
the European Parliament,
representing the citizens
the Council of the European Union, representing the governments of all EU countries
and the European Commission, representing the EU’s overall interests.
They work together
to create laws.
How are laws proposed?
The Commission is the only EU institution that can put forward draft laws.
Parliament
Council
or citizens can ask the Commission to present a law.
The Commission is the only EU institution that can put forward draft laws.
Parliament
Council
or citizens can ask the Commission to present a law.
Did you know?
Citizens can request a new law with the European citizens’ initiative. These initiatives allow you to ask the Commission to prepare legislation on an issue that matters to you and which falls within its powers.
Once an initiative has reached 1 million signatures from at least 7 EU countries, the Commission will decide if and what action to take.
How are laws made?
1
The Commission analyses a policy and evaluates its potential effects.
2
The Commission consults EU countries, citizens, businesses, and organisations.
3
The Commission presents a draft law to Parliament and the Council.
4
Parliament and the Council review the proposed law and suggest changes.
5
If they agree, the proposal becomes EU law.
6
If Parliament and Council do not agree, a conciliation committee tries to find a solution. If no compromise is reached, the law is not adopted and the procedure ends. The Commission can submit a new proposal.
What happens next?
Once adopted, the text is published in the EU’s Official Journal and becomes EU law.
Depending on the type of law, it may be directly applicable in all EU countries or need to be implemented into national legislation.
The Commission and the Court of Justice make sure EU law is properly applied in all EU countries.
Are there other ways to make law?
In some cases, the Council can adopt laws without the Parliament being involved as an equal.
Consent
Parliament can accept or reject a law without changing it. The Council cannot overturn Parliament’s decision.
Consultation
The Council has to wait for Parliament’s opinion before adopting a law, but does not have to take it into account.
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