European Union law

European Union law is the system of supranational law that operates within the member states of the European Union, twenty-seven of them at the time of the source. It began as Community law after the founding of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1952 and has grown alongside the Union. The Treaties agreed by the member states form its constitutional structure, and the Court of Justice of the European Union interprets it and builds up its case law. Legal acts are made through several legislative procedures involving the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union, the European Commission and sometimes the European Council, and only the Commission may propose legislation. The acts include regulations, which are enforceable in every member state automatically, directives, which usually take effect through national transposition, binding decisions on specific matters, and non-binding recommendations and opinions. Treaties, regulations and decisions have direct effect and can be relied on in lawsuits. After the withdrawal of the United Kingdom, a body of retained EU law was copied into the legal systems of England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.