Primary law

Primary law

Primary law means the rules for making rules. Secondary law is then based on the primary law.

Primary law in the EU is the law set out in the treaties establishing the European Economic Community, the European Coal and Steel Community, the European Atomic Energy Community, and the treaties amending it (for example, the Single European Act and the Maastricht, Amsterdam, Nice and Lisbon treaties). 

As a supplement, secondary EU law is adopted as directives, regulations, decisions, recommendations or opinions, or material which refers to court decisions related to these.  

Links

See also Preliminary Ruling.