An Introduction to European Union Legal Research:

1
An Introduction to European Union Legal Research

• ALR International Law
• January 28, 2004

2
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.

3
5 Major Institutions of the EU

• (1) European Commission (20 members)
• (2) Council
• (3) European Parliament
• (4) Court of Justice
• (5) Court of Auditors.

4
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/e
  n/index.html .
• Treaty of the European Union - Three Pillars
  or Spheres of Operation.

5
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.

6
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.

7
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.

8
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 ECJs load (only hears certain
  types of cases listed in Act).

9
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.

10
Treaties Establishing the European Union

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

11
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).

12
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).

13
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).

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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/tr
  eaties_en.htm .

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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/c
  omm/translation/writing/style_guides/english/frame
  _index_en.htm and Oxford - http//www.law.ox.ac.u
  k/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.

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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.i
  nt/eur-lex/en/index.html .

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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- ).

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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/e
  n/lif/ind/en_analytical_index_11.html .

19
Constitutional Reform

• The European Convention http//european-conventi
  on.eu.int/bienvenue.asp?langEN .
• Parliament website on the Convention
  http//www.europarl.eu.int/comparl/conv/default.ht
  m.

20
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/ov
  erview.html .
• Retrospective database of conferences
  http//europa.eu.int/en/agenda/igc-home/index.html
  .

21
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 .

22
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).

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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.jeanmonnetprogr
  am.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).

24
Westlaw / Lexis Demonstrations

• http//lawschool.westlaw.com (EUTREATIES
  1951-present).
• http//www.lexis.com (CELEX EU Law Database
  Treaties 1951-present).

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Next Class

• EU Legislation.
• EU Tribunals Case Law.