unique supranational law system in which, according to an interpretive declaration of member-state governments appended to the Treaty of Lisbon, "the Treaties and the law adopted by the Union on the basis of the Treaties have primacy over the law of Member States" under conditions laid down in the case law of the Court of Justice; key principles of EU law include fundamental rights as guaranteed by the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and as resulting from constitutional traditions common to the EU's states
2011 January Legal system
comparable to the legal systems of member states; first supranational law system
2010 January Legal system
comparable to the legal systems of member states; first supranational law system
2009 January Legal system
comparable to the legal systems of member states; first supranational law system
2008 January Legal system
comparable to the legal systems of member states; first supranational law system