ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines the European Union (EU) and its institutions. The sources and former supremacy of EU law are explained. Finally, Brexit and the United Kingdom’s future relationship with the EU are explored. The EU’s aim is to create and maintain political, economic and social unity across Europe. To ensure single market operates effectively, the EU has the power to regulate common standards and strives to remove national barriers. The European Commission develops EU policies and law and conducts trade negotiations for the EU. The Council of the EU makes the EU’s key daily decisions and consists of national government ministers meeting regularly. The European Parliament is a democratically elected legislature with members selected every five years by every EU citizen eligible to vote. The European Court of Justice’s primary role is to ensure that national and EU laws meet the spirit of the treaties and that EU law is equally, fairly and consistently applied throughout the member states.
