There are three sources of law within the EU legal system:
'Primary legislation' – the treaties and agreements of similar status
'Secondary legislation' – laws made under the powers established by the treaties
Case law – the accumulated body of legal decisions built up by the European courts
Together, this body of jurisprudence constitutes the acquis communautaire, with which all member states – and aspirant member states – are required to comply with and to render their domestic laws consistent with, under pain of sanctions.
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