European Union Treaties

This is the new English edition of a Commentary on the basic European Treaties which has already been very successfully published in five earlier editions in German. It comprises concise article-by-article commentaries on the most recent versions of the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, supplemented by the Charter of Fundamental Rights (including the comments of the European Convention's Presidency) and the Treaty Protocols. The authors, all of them specialists on European law, provide a compact overview of the European primary law and also refer to the relevant secondary law. Each commentary contains an introduction to the particular legal area at issue and gives particular importance to the current case law of the European Court of Justice.

The contributors are all specialists in the field of European law.

Abbreviated Table of ContentsTREATY ON EUROPEAN UNIONTITLE I: COMMON PROVISIONSTITLE II: PROVISIONS ON DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLESTITLE III: PROVISIONS ON THE INSTITUTIONSTITLE IV: PROVISIONS ON ENHANCED COOPERATIONTITLE V: GENERAL PROVISIONS ON THE UNION'S EXTERNAL ACTION AND SPECIFIC PROVISIONS ON THE COMMON FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICYCHAPTER 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS ON THE UNION'S EXTERNAL ACTIONCHAPTER 2: SPECIFIC PROVISIONS ON THE COMMON FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICYSECTION 1: COMMON PROVISIONSSECTION 2: PROVISIONS ON THE COMMON SECURITY AND DEFENCE POLICYTITLE VI: FINAL PROVISIONSTREATY ON THE FUNCTIONING OF THE EUROPEAN UNIONTITLE I: CATEGORIES AND AREAS OF UNION COMPETENCETITLE II: PROVISIONS HAVING GENERAL APPLICATIONPART TWO: NON-DISCRIMINATION AND CITIZENSHIP OF THE UNIONPART THREE: UNION POLICIES AND INTERNAL ACTIONSTITLE I: THE INTERNAL MARKETTITLE II: FREE MOVEMENT OF GOODSCHAPTER 1: THE CUSTOMS UNIONCHAPTER 2: CUSTOMS COOPERATIONCHAPTER 3: PROHIBITION OF QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS BETWEEN MEMBER STATESTITLE III: AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIESTITLE IV: FREE MOVEMENT OF PERSONS, FREE SERVICES AND CAPITALCHAPTER 1: FREE MOVEMENT OF WORKERSCHAPTER 2: RIGHT OF ESTABLISHMENTCHAPTER 3: SERVICESCHAPTER 4: CAPITAL AND PAYMENTSTITLE V: AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY AND JUSTICECHAPTER 1: GENERAL PROVISIONSCHAPTER 2: POLICIES ON BORDER CHECKS, ASYLUM AND IMMIGRATIONCHAPTER 3: JUDICIAL COOPERATION IN CIVIL MATTERSCHAPTER 4: JUDICIAL COOPERATION IN CRIMINAL MATTERSCHAPTER 5: POLICE COOPERATIONTITLE VI: TRANSPORTTITLE VII: COMMON RULES ON COMPETITION, TAXATION AND APPROXIMATION OF LAWSCHAPTER 1: RULES ON COMPETITIONSECTION 1: RULES APPLYING TO UNDERTAKINGSSECTION 2: AIDS GRANTED BY STATESCHAPTER 2: RULES ON TAXATIONCHAPTER 3: APPROXIMATION OF LAWSTITLE VIII: ECONOMIC AND MONETARY POLICYCHAPTER 1: ECONOMIC POLICYCHAPTER 2: MONETARY POLICYCHAPTER 3: INSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONSCHAPTER 4: PROVISIONS SPECIFIC TO MEMBER STATES WHOSE CURRENCY IS THE EUROCHAPTER 5: TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONSTITLE IX: EMPLOYMENTTITLE X: SOCIAL POLICYTITLE XI: THE EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUNDTITLE XII: EDUCATION, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, YOUTH AND SPORTTITLE XIII: CULTURETITLE XIV: PUBLIC HEALTHTITLE XV: CONSUMER PROTECTIONTITLE XVI: TRANS-EUROPEAN NETWORKSTITLE XVII: INDUSTRYTITLE XVIII: ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND TERRITORIAL COHESIONTITLE XIX: RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT AND SPACESTITLE XX: ENVIRONMENTTITLE XXI: ENERGYTITLE XXII: TOURISMTITLE XXIII: CIVIL PROTECTIONTITLE XXIV: ADMINISTRATIVE COOPERATIONPART FOUR: ASSOCIATION OF THE OVERSEAS COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIESPART FIVE: EXTERNAL ACTION BY THE UNIONTITLE I: GENERAL PROVISIONS ON THE UNION'S EXTERNAL ACTIONTITLE II: COMMON COMMERCIAL POLICYTITLE III: COOPERATION WITH THIRD COUNTRIES AND HUMANITARIAN AIDCHAPTER 1: DEVELOPMENT COOPERATIONCHAPTER 2: ECONOMIC, FINANCIAL AND TECHNICALCOOPERATION WITH THIRD COUNTRIESCHAPTER 3: HUMANITARIAN AIDTITLE IV: RESTRICTIVE MEASURESTITLE V: INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTSTITLE VI: THE UNION'S RELATIONS WITH INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS ANDTHIRD COUNTRIES AND UNION DELEGATIONSTITLE VII: SOLIDARITY CLAUSEPART SIX: INSTITUTIONAL AND FINANCAL PROVISIONSTITLE I: INSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONSCHAPTER 1: THE INSTITUTIONSSECTION 1: THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTSECTION 2: THE EUROPEAN COUNCILSECTION 3: THE COUNCILSECTION 4: THE COMMISSIONSECTION 5: THE COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EUROPEAN UNIONSECTION 6: THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANKSECTION 7: THE COURT OF AUDITORSCHAPTER 2: LEGAL ACTS OF THE UNION, ADOPTION PROCEDURES AND OTHER PROVISIONSSECTION 1: THE LEGAL ACTS OF THE UNIONSECTION 2: PROCEDURES FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE ACTS AND OTHER PROVISIONSCHAPTER 3: THE UNION'S ADVISORY BODIESSECTION 1: THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEESECTION 2: THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONSCHAPTER 4: THE EUROPEAN INVESTMENT BANKTITLE II: FINANCIAL PROVISIONSCHAPTER 1: THE UNION'S OWN RESOURCESCHAPTER 2: THE MULTIANNUAL FINANCIAL FRAMEWORKCHAPTER 3: THE UNION'S ANNUAL BUDGETCHAPTER 4: IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BUDGET AND DISCHARGECHAPTER 5: COMMON PROVISIONSCHAPTER 6: COMBATING FRAUDTITLE III: ENHANCED COOPERATIONPART SEVEN: GENERAL AND FINAL PROVISIONSCHARTER OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE EUROPEAN UNIONTITLE I: DIGNITYTITLE II: FREEDOMSTITLE III: EQUALITYTITLE IV: SOLIDARITYTITLE V: CITIZENS' RIGHTSTITLE VI: JUSTICETITLE VII: GENERAL PROVISIONS GOVERNING THE INTERPRETATION AND APPLICATION OF THE CHARTERPROTOCOLSPROTOCOL (No 1): ON THE ROLE OF NATIONAL PARLIAMENTS IN THE EUROPEAN UNIONTITLE I: INFORMATION FOR NATIONAL PARLIAMENTSTITLE II: INTERPARLIAMENTARY COOPERATIONPROTOCOL (No 2): ON THE APPLICATION OF THE PRINCIPLES OF SUBSIDIARITY AND PROPORTIONALITYPROTOCOL (No 3): ON THE STATUTE OF THE COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EUROPEAN UNIONTITLE I: JUDGES AND ADVOCATES-GENERALTITLE II: ORGANISATION OF THE COURT OF JUSTICETITLE III: PROCEDURE BEFORE THE COURT OF JUSTICETITLE IV: GENERAL COURTTITLE IVa: SPECIALISED COURTSTITLE V: FINAL PROVISIONSANNEX: THE EUROPEAN UNION CIVIL SERVICE TRIBUNALPROTOCOL (No 4): ON THE STATUTE OF THE EUROPEAN SYSTEM OF CENTRAL BANKS AND OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK CHAPTER I: THE EUROPEAN SYSTEM OF CENTRAL BANKSCHAPTER II: OBJECTIVES AND TASKS OF THE ESCBCHAPTER III: ORGANISATION OF THE ESCBCHAPTER IV: MONETARY FUNCTIONS AND OPERATIONS OF THE ESCBCHAPTER V: PRUDENTIAL SUPERVISIONCHAPTER VI: FINANCIAL PROVISIONS OF THE ESCBCHAPTER VII: GENERAL PROVISIONSCHAPTER VIII: AMENDMENT OF THE STATUTE AND COMPLEMENTARY LEGISLATIONCHAPTER IX: TRANSITIONAL AND OTHER PROVISIONS FOR THE ESCBPROTOCOL (No 5): ON THE STATUTE OF THE EUROPEAN INVESTMENT BANKPROTOCOL (No 6): ON THE LOCATION OF THE SEATS OF THE INSTITUTIONS AND OF CERTAIN BODIES, OFFICES, AGENCIES AND DEPARTMENTS OF THE EUROPEAN UNIONPROTOCOL (No 7): ON THE PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES OF THE EUROPEAN UNIONCHAPTER I: PROPERTY, FUNDS, ASSETS AND OPERATIONS OF THE EUROPEAN UNIONCHAPTER II: COMMUNICATIONS AND LAISSEZ-PASSERCHAPTER III: MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTCHAPTER IV: REPRESENTATIVES OF MEMBER STATES TAKING PART IN THE WORK OF THE INSTITUTIONS OF THE EUROPEAN UNIONCHAPTER V: OFFICIALS AND OTHER SERVANTS OF THE EUROPEAN UNIONTHIRD COUNTRIES ACCREDITED TO THE EUROPEAN UNIONCHAPTER VII: GENERAL PROVISIONSPROTOCOL (No 8). RELATING TO ARTICLE 6(2) OF THE TREATY ON EUROPEAN UNION ON THE ACCESSION OF THE UNION TO THE EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMSPROTOCOL (No 9). ON THE DECISION OF THE COUNCIL RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ARTICLE 16(4) OF THE TREATY ON EUROPEAN UNION AND ARTICLE 238(2) OF THE TREATY ON THE FUNCTIONING OF THE EUROPEANUNION BETWEEN 1 NOVEMBER 2014 AND 31 MARCH 2017 ON THE ONE HAND, AND AS FROM 1 APRIL 2017 ON THE OTHERPROTOCOL (No 10). ON PERMANENT STRUCTURED COOPERATION ESTABLISHED BY ARTICLE 42 OF THE TREATY ON EUROPEAN UNIONPROTOCOL (No 11): ON ARTICLE 42 OF THE TREATY ON EUROPEAN UNIONPROTOCOL (No 12): ON THE EXCESSIVE DEFICIT PROCEDUREPROTOCOL (No 14): ON THE EURO GROUPPROTOCOL (No 15): ON CERTAIN PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELANDPROTOCOL (No 16): ON CERTAIN PROVISIONS RELATING TO DENMARKPROTOCOL (No 17): ON DENMARKPROTOCOL (No 18): ON FRANCEPROTOCOL (No 19): ON THE SCHENGEN ACQUIS INTEGRATED INTO THE FRAMEWORK OF THE EUROPEAN UNIONPROTOCOL (No 20): ON THE APPLICATION OF CERTAIN ASPECTS OF ARTICLE 26 OF THE TREATY ON THE FUNCTIONING OF THE EUROPEAN UNION TO THE UNITED KINGDOM AND TO IRELANDPROTOCOL (No 21): ON THE POSITION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND IRELAND IN RESPECT OF THE AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY AND JUSTICEPROTOCOL (No 22): ON THE POSITION OF DENMARKPROTOCOL (No 23): ON EXTERNAL RELATIONS OF THE MEMBER STATES WITH REGARD TO THE CROSSING OF EXTERNAL BORDERSPROTOCOL (No 24): ON ASYLUM FOR NATIONALS OF MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN UNIONPROTOCOL (No 25): ON THE EXERCISE OF SHARED COMPETENCEPROTOCOL (No 26): ON SERVICES OF GENERAL INTERESTPROTOCOL (No 27): ON THE INTERNAL MARKET AND COMPETITIONPROTOCOL (No 28): ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND TERRITORIAL COHESIONPROTOCOL (No 29): ON THE SYSTEM OF PUBLIC BROADCASTING IN THE MEMBER STATESPROTOCOL (No 30): ON THE APPLICATION OF THE CHARTER OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION TO POLAND AND TO THE UNITED KINGDOMPROTOCOL (No 31): CONCERNING IMPORTS INTO THE EUROPEAN UNION OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS REFINED IN THE NETHERLANDS ANTILLESANNEX TO THE PROTOCOLPROTOCOL (No 32): ON THE ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY IN DENMARKPROTOCOL (No 33): CONCERNING ARTICLE 157 OF THE TREATY ON THE FUNCTIONING OF THE EUROPEAN UNION PROTOCOL (No 34): ON SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR GREENLANDPROTOCOL (No 35): ON ARTICLE 40.3.3 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF IRELANDPROTOCOL (No 36): ON TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONSTITLE I: PROVISIONS CONCERNING THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTTITLE II: PROVISIONS CONCERNING THE QUALIFIED MAJORITYTITLE III: PROVISIONS CONCERNING THE CONFIGURATIONS OF THE COUNCILTITLE IV: PROVISIONS CONCERNING THE COMMISSION, INCLUDING THE HIGH REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNION FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND SECURITY POLICY TITLE V: PROVISIONS CONCERNING THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE COUNCIL, HIGH REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE COMMON FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY, AND THE DEPUTYSECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE COUNCILTITLE VI: PROVISIONS CONCERNING ADVISORY BODIESTITLE VII: TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS CONCERNING ACTS ADOPTED ON THE BASIS OF TITLES V AND VI OF THE TREATY ON EUROPEAN UNION PRIOR TO THE ENTRY INTO FORCE OF THE TREATY OF LISBONPROTOCOL (No 37): ON THE FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE EXPIRY OF THE ECS C TREATY AND ON THE RESEARCH FUND FOR COAL AND STEELANNEXESANNEX I: LIST REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 38 OF THE TREATY ON THE FUNCTIONING OF THE EUROPEAN UNIONANNEX II: OVERSEAS COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES TO WHICH THE PROVISIONS OF PART FOUR OF THE TREATY ON THE FUNCTIONING OF THE EUROPEAN UNION APPLY