European Union's legal issues and agreements with third countries
The EU legal order is a uniquely binding international legal system. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has expertise in matters including the EU treaties and competences and the EU's agreements with third countries.

EU law is a constantly evolving, extensive set of laws that affects the Union’s Member States, and thereby their people, in a variety of ways.
The EU may only act within the limits of the competences conferred upon it by the Member States. As a rule, EU law takes precedence over national legislation.
EU law may also affect the interpretation and application of national legislation. Member States must comply with and implement EU legislation at national level.
The Foreign Ministry’s Unit for EU and Treaty Law provides advice and expertise in matters related to the EU treaties, the EU institutions and competences and the EU's agreements with third countries.
European Union treaties
The EU treaties are a series of international agreements between EU Member States establishing the EU and its competences and institutions.
The treaties provide the main framework for all EU activities. The most important treaties are:
- Treaty establishing the European Community (Treaty of Rome), signed in 1957
- Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom Treaty), signed in 1957
- Treaty on European Union (Maastricht Treaty), signed in 1992
- Treaty of Amsterdam, signed in 1997
- Treaty of Nice, signed in 2001
- Treaty of Lisbon amending the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty establishing the European Community, signed in 2009.
The first three treaties can also be referred to as the founding treaties. The first two treaties established the European Communities, and the Maastricht Treaty established the European Union.
The treaties have been amended as new countries have joined the Union.
The Treaty of Lisbon amended the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty establishing the European Community and renamed the latter as the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. Therefore, under the Treaty of Lisbon, the EU is founded on two treaties:
- Treaty on European Union (TEU) and
- Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).
There is also the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, which has the same legal value as the TEU and the TFEU. The Charter of Fundamental Rights became legally binding with the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon.
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs handles matters concerning amendments to the European Union treaties together with the Prime Minister's Office.
EU law and EU agreements with third countries
The EU may conclude international agreements with third countries and international organisations in matters within its competence.
If the subject matter of an agreement falls under the exclusive competence of the EU, the EU may conclude the agreement alone (EU treaties).
The EU may also conclude an agreement with one or more third countries or with an international organisation in the area of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP agreements).
Whenever an international agreement contains matters that fall under the EU’s and the Member States’ exclusive competences, it is concluded as a mixed agreement, meaning that the Member States are also parties to the agreement.
- Database on European Union Treaties and Agreements maintained by the European Council(Link to another website.)
- Treaty guide