Where to find european directives

This legally binding act of the European Union establishes a set of objectives which all member states of the European Union must fulfil. The member states are free to choose the manner they see fit to fulfil the required objectives. Implementing directives are, however, bound by strict limits as implementing acts are meant to further the implementation of existing legal acts and the mandate within which implementing acts are issued tend to be narrowly defined.

Implementing directives need to be transposed into national legislation and as such, have no direct effect. Contrary to directives i , implementing directives do not give member states much room for interpretation as the objectives of an implementing directive are narrowly set within the framework of the legislation it aims to further implement. Each Member State is then obliged to give effect to them on a statutory basis. In Scotland this may be done either through regulations made under the European Communities Act, or under any other empowering primary legislation, such as the Environment Act A further option is for the Scottish Government to issue an official direction to SEPA, or any other body, specifying action to be taken to meet the directive's terms.

There have been numerous environmental directives issued over the years, some of them highly technical, and they can only briefly be summarised. The titles used here are often abbreviated. Many of the directives have a requirement for periodical reporting to the European Commission.

The Paris Convention PARCOM agreement requires annual loadings to be quantified from all sources, including rivers and discharges, for a range of parameters, including nitrogen and phosphorus. Directives are generally used to set up general policies. They are used in nearly every policy area of the EU. To ensure the objectives set out in a directive are fulfilled member states are required to transpose directives into national legislation before a specified date.

Failing to transpose directives or failure to fulfil the objectives set in a directive member states may be brought before the Court of Justice of the European Union. Directives are sometimes used to set out general principles in a certain policy area. They may also be used to set out very broad policies.