The Legislative Documentation of the European Communities

Abstract

The entry of the United Kingdom into the European Communities has introduced to this country a novel method of making law, centred not upon Parliament but upon those Com munity institutions invested with legislative powers by the founding treaties. Despite the fact that the United Kingdom has now been a member of the European Communities for over a year, few people are familiar with this law-making process and with the considerable amount of associated documentation. This paper seeks to describe the various stages through which legislative proposals proceed before they acquire the force of Community law, and gives particular attention to the categories of documentation which emanate from this pro cedure. Many of the titles mentioned may be consulted in those academic libraries designated as European Documentation Centres by the European Communities. ¹