Institutions of the European Union

Contents
	The European Parliament (EP)
	The European Commission
	Council of the European union
	The European Council
	The Court of Justice of the European Communities
	European Court of Auditors
	The Committee of the Regions
	European Economic and Social Committee (ESC)
	The European Ombudsman
	Legislative acts and measures

A regulation is a legislative act of the European Union which becomes immediately enforceable as law in all member states simultaneously. This means that regulations don't need to be transported into national law. The legal basis for the enactment of regulations is article 249 of the Treaty establishing the European Community.

DIRECTIVE

A directive is a legislative act of the European Union, which requires member states to achieve a particular result without dictating the means of achieving that result. The legal basis for the enactment of directives is article 249 of the Treaty establishing the European Community.

Directives normally leave member states with a certain amount of leeway as to the exact rules to be adopted. Directives can be adopted by means of a variety of legislative procedures depending on their subject matter.

DECISION

A decision is a legislative measure with specific addressees. Under Article 249 of the EC Treaty, a decision is binding. This means that it must be obeyed by those to whom it is addressed (Member States or individuals). It is binding in its entirety and cannot therefore be applied in an incomplete, selective or partial manner.

RESOLUTION

The Resolution is a text adopted:

• by the Council of European union. This kind of act is not binding but in most of the cases Member states follow the decision;
• by the European Parliament embodying its opinion either on a legislative text - a 'legislative resolution' - or on any subject chosen on Parliament's own initiative - a 'non-legislative resolution' - with the intention of influencing a given European Union policy.