The European Union

European Union

The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...

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

Cooperation procedure

The cooperation 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 only in a few areas...

.

Green Paper

Green Papers are usually used to launch a consultation

Public consultation

Public consultation, or simply consultation, is a regulatory process by which the public's input on matters affecting them is sought. Its main goals are in improving the efficiency, transparency and public involvement in large-scale projects or laws and policies...

 process. They present Commission

European Commission

The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....

 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 require 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

Soft law

The term "soft law" refers to quasi-legal instruments which do not have any legally binding force, or whose binding force is somewhat "weaker" than the binding force of traditionallaw, often contrasted with soft law by being referred to as "hard law"...

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

Decision

Decisions (by Council

European Council

The European Council is an institution of the European Union. It comprises the heads of state or government of the EU member states, along with the President of the European Commission and the President of the European Council, currently Herman Van Rompuy...

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