Measures
Measures are usually taken to support, encourage and coordinate Member States' activities in fields where the EU has no power (competence) and when national laws should not be harmonised, for example in the areas of culture and employment policy.
Measures include legally binding instruments.
The future
The Lisbon Treaty now proposes the terms "supporting, coordinating and complementary actions" in the new art. 6 TFU.Links
See also supporting actions, Simplification, Incentive measures and Supporting measures.