Background

The creation of a single common market within Europe dates back to the Treaty of Rome 1957.

Since 1957 a number of amendments to the basic treaty have been made in order to resolve difficulties and meet common objectives, including adoption of the name European Union in 1993.

Although the treaties are the ultimate source of EU Law, there are a number of legislative instruments available to the EU institutions, one of which is the directive. Directives are Legislative instruments for which the precise details of implementation are left to national governments. In the UK, these are legislative instruments/directives, when implemented as Statutary Instruments, are legally binding.

Directives are approved by the Council of European Union after going through a rigorous drafting and consultation procedure during which all member states have a right, through their national body, to comment. National bodies hold regular briefing meetings during the consultation period, at which experts from national institutions and trade associations take part.

By these measures, the contents of the proposed directive receive imput and comment from the experts in all member states. The final directive may not fully meet every requirement but a common agreement would be reached, acceptable to all parties. Ath the time a directive is finally approved by the council of the European Union, implementation dates are set.