A guide to EU

The European Coal and Steel Community was formed by the Treaty of Paris in 1952, emerging from the economic ruins of Europe after the Second World War. The Treaty of Rome then established the European Community (EC) in 1958, built on the belief that there should never be a major war in Europe again. The overriding aims of this new community were to promote economic progress and co-operation in Europe and to guarantee a peaceful continent for years to come.

The United Kingdom joined the Community in 1973 under the premiership of Edward Heath. A referendum, the first of its kind in the UK, was held in 1975, and confirmed the UK’s membership by a significant majority.

Community policy now covers a large number of areas. It covers market regulation, social policy, the environment, regional policy and many other areas. Since 1992 the EC has been known as the European Union (EU) and, through its Common Foreign and Security Policy, it has now started to move into defence, a controversial area as the furore over the proposed Rapid Reaction Force shows.

Regulations and Directives

Rules in the EU are adopted in the form of regulations, directives or decisions.

Regulations apply to all member states, companies, authorities and citizens. They apply as written and take immediate effect throughout the Union. Directives, on the other hand, must first be transformed into national legislation. The member states themselves decide, within an agreed period of time, how to comply with the provisions of the directive.

Decisions are directly binding on those to whom they are addressed, but are selective in application.

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