Retroalimentación

1.1. Types of European Union Laws.

 The European Union (EU) is based on the rule of law. This means that every action taken by the EU is founded on Treaties that have been approved democratically by its members.

 EU laws help to achieve the objectives of the EU treaties and put EU policies into practice. There are two main types of EU law: primary and secondary.

Retroalimentación

Primary Legislation[1]:

Treaties[2] are the starting point for EU law and are known in the EU as primary law. A treaty is a binding agreement between EU member countries. It sets out EU objectives, rules for EU institutions, how decisions are made and the relationship between the EU and its member countries.

 The treaties are negotiated and agreed by all the EU countries and then ratified by their parliaments, sometimes following a referendum.[3]

 Secondary Legislation

Retroalimentación

1.2.Applying EU law[1]

 Regulations and Decisions become binding automatically throughout the EU on the date they enter into force.  Directives must be incorporated by EU countries into their national legislation

 What is the main difference between Regulations and Directives?

 Each directive contains a deadline by which EU countries must incorporate its provisions into their national legislation and inform the Commission to that effect.

 The Commission, what are we talking about?

Imagen 5: https://www.hablamosdeeuropa.es

The European Commission is the executive of the European Union. This means that it is responsible for:

• initiating laws,
• enforcing the laws of the EU
• and managing the EU's policies.

It is made up of 27 commissioners (one from each member state) and is based in Brussels.[2]

The Commission is responsible for making sure that all EU countries properly apply EU law. In this role, the Commission is referred to as the ‘guardian of the treaties’.[3]

Retroalimentación

This activity is only recommended for advanced English students.

Read the quote and try, firstly, to understand the text and, secondly, summarize it with your own words. Remember, Transposed [1]cannot be changed! Share your reflections with your partners.

“Employers will therefore first of all need to look at the national legislation; firstly, it contains the relevant (transposed) EU provisions, and secondly, it may contain important additional requirements that employers may need to comply with. Member  States are indeed allowed to adopt more stringent protective  measures than those foreseen in the EU directives. It is also the national competent authorities, usually the labour inspectorates,  who are primarily responsible for enforcing the national provisions  transposing the directives”[2].

Look specifically for this expressions:

1. the relevant provisions
2. additional requirements
3. more stringent protective measures
4. national competent authorities
5. the labour inspectorate
6. for enforcing the national provisions

Retroalimentación

As homework, note down all the relevant and more significant knowledges you have learned today.  And compare with your classmates before the next period starts.

Imagen 6: https://european-union.europa

“Make men and women work together show them that beyond their differences and geographical boundaries there lies a common interest.”

Jean Monnet