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Glossary of summaries

Legislative acts

According to Article 289 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU):

  • legislative acts are decisions adopted under the ordinary or a special legislative procedure;
  • non-legislative acts are decisions that are adopted, generally by the European Commission, following delegation (delegated acts) or to implement a legislative act (implementing acts).

In certain specific cases defined in the treaties, legislative acts may include acts adopted:

  • on the initiative of a group of EU countries or of the European Parliament;
  • on a recommendation from the European Central Bank; or
  • at the request of the Court of Justice or the European Investment Bank.

According to Article 297 TFEU, legislative acts adopted under the ordinary legislative procedure must be signed by the Presidents of the European Parliament and of the Council. Those adopted under a special procedure must be signed by the President of the relevant institution.

Legislative acts are published in the Official Journal of the European Union and enter into force on the date specified in them or, if no date is specified, on the 20th day following that of their publication.

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