Exclusive competence

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When the EU has an exclusive competence member states are not permitted to make their own laws concerning that area.

If the EU has a shared competence both the EU and the member states may make laws, but EU law has primacy over any adopted national law, and may override the right to make national laws in the area covered by an EU law.

Article 3 TFEU of the Lisbon Treaty defines the following areas as exclusive EU competences: the competition rules within the internal market, the customs union, the common commercial policy,  monetary policy for the Euro countries, the conservation of marine biological resources under the common fishing policy and the conclusion of international agreements as exclusive competences if the EU has a corresponding internal competence.