Act

An act is an instrument in writing to verify a legislative act. In the European Union acts are sometimes used as foundation for treaties¹ that might enter into the legislative process at a later date.

Area of application

Acts are not directly applicable and, due the nature of acts in the context of the European Union, need not be transposed into national legislation.

Adopting acts

An act can be adopted through a number of decision-making procedures² used in the European Union.

Acts as a legal instrument of the European are not mentioned in the Treaties.

• 1. 

  Treaties are legally binding agreements between countries on any given subject. Treaties are subject to international law.
   
• 2. 

  Decision making in the European Union takes places by means of various legislative procedures. The ordinary legislative procedure is the default procedure. When the Treaties indicate otherwise one of the special legislative procedures is used. Secondary legislation is decided upon by means of a seperate set of special procedures.
   
• 3. 

  The European Union has a number of legal instruments to its disposal. These are used to make or coordinate policies, to take measures and initiate programme's, to facilitate the implementation of policies and to issue advice to member states. Legal instruments are divided into two categories, binding and non-binding instruments. Legal instruments specifically in place for implementing EU acts are binding, but have been put in a final, third section.