Framework decision
A form of decision-making used in judicial cooperation. See the intergovernmental third pillar, referred to in Article 34(2)(b) TEU of the Treaty of Nice. The decisions are binding upon the Member States as to the result to be achieved but leave to the national authorities the choice of form and methods. Hence it corresponds to directives in the supranational first pillar of the Treaties.
In the Pupino Judgment in 2005, the European Court of Justice conferred direct effect on framework decisions so that they also enter into force even if a country has refused to implement the framework decision. But the last line of Article 34, 2 (b) explicitly states that framework decisions ‘shall not entail direct effect’.
