An Introduction to European Union Legal Research:

ALR: International Law

January 28, 2004

Background on the Organization of the European Union:

• EU as an official body = Maastricht Treaty (Nov. 1993).

• Original Members: Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and West Germany.

• EU – 15 member political entity with a population of 378 million.

5 Major Institutions of the EU:

(1) European Commission (20 members);

(2) Council;

(3) European Parliament;

(4) Court of Justice;

(5) Court of Auditors.

Other Important Institutions and Documents:

• The Economic and Social Committee – http://www.esc.eu.int/pages/en/home.asp .

• The Committee of Regions - http://www.cor.eu.int/en/index.html .

• Treaty of the European Union - “Three Pillars” or Spheres of Operation.

Treaty goal to establish a more cohesive “intergovernmental entity” supporting:

• (1) EC Law as well as economic institutions and activities;

• (2) Common Foreign and Security Policy;

• (3) Justice and Home Affairs.

European Commission:

• http://europa.eu.int/comm/index_en.htm .

• Permanent executive body responsible for implementing treaties.

• Develops policy and initiates legislation.

• Transmits proposals to the Council of the European Union.

• Major decision-making body of the EU.

Council of the European Union:

• http://ue.eu.int/en/summ.htm .

• Power to adopt rules and important community policies.

• Official acts include regulations, directives, decisions, recommendations and opinions.

• Coordinates economic policies of Member States.

Court of Justice (ECJ) & Court of First Instance (CFI):

• ECJ (http://curia.eu.int/en/index.htm ) supervises uniform interpretation and application of EU law (treaties and secondary legislation).

• CFI (http://curia.eu.int/en/index.htm ) was established under the Single European Act of 1988 to lessen the ECJ’s load (only hears certain types of cases listed in Act).

European Parliament:

• http://www.europarl.eu.int/home/default_en.htm .

• Originally, had more advisory, rather than decision-making, powers.

• The Maastricht Treaty has increased the powers of the Parliament and enlarged its legislative role.

Treaties Establishing the European Union:

• Treaty on European Union, found at http://www.europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/treaties/dat/eu_cons_treaty_en.pdf .

• Signed in Maastricht in Feb. 1992 and came into force on Nov. 1, 1993 (main document of the EU / political arrangement of “the new Europe”).

• Treaties are the primary legislation of the European Union, much like a constitution or civil code might be for national law.

Marquette EU Treaty Resources:

• Treaty of Rome Consolidated and the Treaty of Maastricht (KJE4442.3.T73 1992).

• The Treaty of Maastricht: from Conception to Ratification: A Comprehensive Reference Guide (KJE4443.1992.C67.1993).

Founding Treaties:

• The Treaty Establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (the ECSC Treaty or the Treaty of Paris) (261 U.N.T.S. 140) (1951).

• The Treaty Establishing the European Economic Community (EEC Treaty or Treaty of Rome) (298 U.N.T.S. 11) (1957) created the EEC (European Economic Community).

• The Treaty Establishing the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) (also referred to as the “Treaty of Rome”) (298 U.N.T.S. 167)(1957).

Other Important EU Treaties:

• The Treaty Establishing a Single Council and a Single Commission of the European Communities (also known as the “Merger Treaty of 1965”) (4 ILM 776).

• The Single European Act (25 ILM 506) (1987).• The Treaty on European Union (or the Maastricht

Treaty) (31 ILM 247; 1992 O.J. (C191) 1) (1993).• The Treaty of Amsterdam (1997 O.J. (C 340) 1)

(1999).

Rome, Maastricht, Amsterdam, and Nice:

• The four cities where EU founding treaties were created in the past decade; the documents imparted changes to the EU “common market”.

• Developed/altered different parts of the entities that used to be known as the “European Communities” and are now known as the “European Union”.

• Treaties found at: http://www.europa.eu.int/abc/treaties_en.htm .

Official Citation of Treaties:

• As a general rule, the basic treaties are published in the Official Journal, C Series.

• European Court of Justice on Citation: http://curia.eu.int/en/instit/txtdocfr/index.htm .

• More citation guides: EU - http://europa.eu.int/comm/translation/writing/style_guides/english/frame_index_en.htm and Oxford - http://www.law.ox.ac.uk/oscola/index.shtml.

• Ex. #1: ESCS or Paris Treaty: Treaty Establishing the European Coal and Steel Community, Apr. 18, 1951, 261 U.N.T.S. 140.

• Ex. #2: EEC or Treaty of Rome: Treaty Establishing the European Economic Community, Mar. 25, 1957, 298 U.N.T.S. 3.

Consolidated Versions of Treaties:

• Unofficial publications.

• Intent is to show the earlier EU treaties as amended by later treaties.

• Consolidated versions of EU treaties are available through EUR-Lex – http://www.europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/index.html .

EU Treaties at Marquette Law:

• Volume 4, European Union Law Reporter (CCH), London: Sweet & Maxwell, 2000-. (KJE949.C655).

• European Union Law Guide, ed. Philip Raworth. New York: Oceana Publications. (KJE949.E97).

• Westlaw Database ID: EU-TREATIES (1951- ).• Lexis ID: Treaties & International Agreements /

CELEX EU Law Database (1951- ).

Accession Treaties and External Treaties:

• Accession Treaties between the EU and non-EU nations are published with related documents in the Official Journal.

• External Treaties between EU and non-EU nations are published in the Official Journal L Series. For a list, see http://www.europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/lif/ind/en_analytical_index_11.html .

Constitutional Reform:

• The European Convention – http://european-convention.eu.int/bienvenue.asp?lang=EN .

• Parliament website on the Convention – http://www.europarl.eu.int/comparl/conv/default.htm.

Intergovernmental Conferences (IGCs):

• Summit meetings held to negotiate and propose important changes to the European co-operative framework.

• Overview of conferences found at: http://europa.eu.int/en/agenda/igc-home/general/overview.html .

• Retrospective database of conferences: http://europa.eu.int/en/agenda/igc-home/index.html .

Locating Information about the EU:

• Carpenter, Liz. Legal Research and the Law of the European Communities (KJE928.J44 1997).

• European Union in the U.S.: Research Tools – http://www.eurunion.org/infores/home.htm .

• European Union Law: An Integrated Guide to Electronic and Print Research – http://www.llrx.com/features/eulaw.htm .

Locating Information About the EU:

• Harvard Law School, Guide to European Union Legal Research – http://www.law.harvard.edu/library/ref/ils_ref/eu_guide/eu_legal_research.htm.

• Raisch, Marylin. “European Union: Basic Legal Sources,” in Accidental Tourist on the New Frontier: An Introductory Guide to Global Legal Research (K85.A27 1998).

• Reynolds, Thomas H. & Flores, Arturo A. Foreign Law: Current Sources of Codes and Basic Legislation in Jurisdictions of the World (K7073.R49).

Journal Research:

• Articles in EU law reviews and English language journals that focus on the EU.

• The Yearbook of European Law contains annual surveys of legal developments, as well as articles and book reviews. European Journal of International Law (http://www.ejil.org ).

• The Jean Monnet Center (http://www.jeanmonnetprogram.org ) contains European Integration Current Contents and provides the tables of contents to journals that are relevant for European legal research. Has a link to “ERPA” (European Research Papers Archive).

Westlaw / Lexis Demonstrations:

• http://lawschool.westlaw.com (EUTREATIES; 1951-present).

• http://www.lexis.com (CELEX EU Law Database: Treaties; 1951-present).

Next Class:

• EU Legislation.

• EU Tribunals & Case Law.