The K-Zone: European Union

The politico-legal entity formed by the TreatyOfMaastricht, which extended the existing EuropeanCommunities into a new `three pillar' structure. The `first pillar' encompasses the existing EuropeanCommunities, now renamed the EuropeanCommunity (which includes, and is dominated by, the EEC). The `second pillar' is a set of agreements on establishing a common foreign and defence policy. The `third pillar' is the set of agreements on establishing common police and judicial cooperation procedures. The `first pillar' is the most important from a strictly legal perspective, as it is the treaties encompassed by this pillar that give the EU the power to legislate, and enforce this legislation over member states. The ECJ only has jurisdiction over matters in the first pillar.

EULaw