1. NAGY, Csongor István ncsi@eik.bme.hu
EU law Class 3
NAGY, Csongor István

2. History and purpose
End of the II World War: only a European state may avert a third world-war
Peace and prosperity
Global competition
Common market

3. Schengen area

4. Euro zone

5. Exclusive competences of the EU
Customs union
Competition law and policy (in respect of matters having an EU dimension)
Monetary policy for the euro-zone
Common fisheries policy
Common commercial policy

6. History
1952: European Coal and Steel Community (merged into European Community in 2002 )
1957: Euratom (European Atomic Energy Community)
1957: European Community (originally: European Economic Community)
1992: European Union (Treaty of Maastricht): creating a three pillar structure
2007 (2009): Treaty of Lisbon

7. Institutions European Commission:
Nominated by the Member States, elected by the Parliament
Represents the Community interest
Council:
Consists of the representatives of the Member States
Represents the interests of the states
European Parliament:
Elected by the European citizens, directly
Represents the European people

8. Ordinary legislative procedure

9. Institutions EU courts (General Court, European Court of Justice)
Court of Auditors
European Ombudsman

10. Source of EC law
Primary sources: founding treaties and their amendments
Secondary sources:
regulations: general rules, direct application
directives: aim defined, method/details left to the Member States
decision: concrete addressees

11. The typical way to get to the European Court of Justice
First step: law-suit before the court of the Member State concerned.
Second step: the court realizes the existence of a Community law issue and decides to submit preliminary questions to Luxembourg – the submission is the power of the court and NOT the right of the parties.
Third step: the questions are worded and submitted.
Fourth step: the ECJ delibaretes the questions and answers them sending back a preliminary ruling.
Fifth step: the Member State court decides, accordingly.

12. Preliminary ruling procedure
Preliminary question Preliminary ruling
European Court of Justice
National court procedure