How does an EU law become law?

The Commission proposes. Parliament and Council each adopt a position. The two negotiate a common text, usually in trilogue. Both formally adopt it. It is published in the Official Journal and member states transpose it.

Knowing the stage a file is at tells you how much can still change. Before trilogue: a lot. After: almost nothing.

The ordinary legislative procedure is designed so that no single institution can act alone. That is a feature, and it is also why everything takes eighteen months.

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