Guides: European Union Research Guide: Primary Legislation: Treaties

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Primary Legislation: Treaties

Now that we’ve covered secondary sources for European Union information, let’s turn our attention to primary sources.

Current Treaties

Current treaties are known as primary legislation (or primary law). Treaties between the EU and non-EU countries, as well as those between EU member states, are also considered primary legislation.

Treaty of Lisbon (2007)
Treaty on European Union and Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (Maastricht Treaty (1992); 2016 consolidated version)
Treaty Establishing the European Atomic Energy Commission (EURATOM Treaty (1957); 2016 consolidated version)
Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (2016)

Other Treaties

Treaty Establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC Treaty or Treaty of Paris (1951))
Treaty Establishing the European Economic Community (EEC Treaty or Treaty of Rome (1957))
Treaty Establishing a Single Council and a Single Commission of the European Communities (Merger Treaty of 1965)
Single European Act (1987)
Treaty of Amsterdam (1997)
Treaty of Nice (2001)

Finding Treaties

To find additional EU treaties, there are several places you can look:

EUR-Lex: Treaties currently in force
Europa.eu: Founding treaties
International Legal Materials (print and electronic)
Official Journal (includes consolidated versions of the treaties, with incorporated changes, through the Treaty of Lisbon (2007))

Treaties between the EU and the United States can also be found in the U.S. Treaties and Other International Acts Series. Likewise, United Nations treaties to which the EU is a party can be found on the UN Treaties website.

European Union Research Guide

Contents

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Primary Legislation: Treaties

Current Treaties

Other Treaties

Finding Treaties