ABSTRACT
Enforcement refers to the actions created in the European Court Treaty for the purpose of ensuring that both the Member States and the institutions of the European Union comply with their relative obligations within the Treaties. The Commission has always been described as the 'watchdog of the Treaties' and so it was empowered by Article 258 to act in such manner monitoring the behaviour of Member States and enforcing compliance with Treaty and other obligations. Once the possibility of non-compliance has been notified, the Commission at first engages in informal discussions with the Member State. Court proceedings depend on the action taken by the Member State following the earlier proceedings. If the Member State still fails to comply even after the other stages then the Commission will bring an action in the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). Before the signing of the Maastricht Treaty decisions made by the CJEU lacked the possibility of actual enforcement.
