Delegated acts

Delegated acts

The lawmakers can give the EU Commission the option to supplement or amend certain non-essential elements of the EU law or framework law by delegating authority.

The Lisbon Treaty introduced delegated acts as a special category of law in addition to EU directives and regulations.

Delegated acts have also supremacy over national laws and national constitutions. For delegated acts, see Article 290 TFEU in the Lisbon Treaty. 

Notes

• Not to be confused with executive acts, where the executive body, for example the Commission, only carries out the specific provisions of the law. 

• The distinction between legislative, delegated and executive acts can be hard to make.

• If the Commission misuses the delegated power it has been given it can only be re-called by a qualified majority in the Council or an absolute majority in the European Parliament

Links 

See also Implementing powers, Commission