Regulation (European Union)

A regulation is a legal act of the European Union[1] which becomes immediately enforceable as law in all member states simultaneously.

Regulations can be adopted by means of a variety of legislative procedures depending on their subject matter.

Article 288 To exercise the Union's competences, the institutions shall adopt regulations, directives, decisions, recommendations and opinions.

A directive shall be binding, as to the result to be achieved, upon each Member State to which it is addressed, but shall leave to the national authorities the choice of form and methods.

As such, regulations constitute one of the most powerful forms of European Union law and a great deal of care is required in their drafting and formulation.