Founding Treaties meaning

In practice, “Founding Treaties” refers to the original treaties that created the European Communities and, by extension, the core EU Treaties that underpin EU institutions and competences. It is a descriptive term, not defined in legislation or case law. They include the Treaty of Paris establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (1951; expired 2002) and the Treaties of Rome (1957): the EEC Treaty (later the EC Treaty, now the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, TFEU) and the Euratom Treaty (in force). Later amendments — the Single European Act, Maastricht (Treaty on European Union, TEU), Amsterdam, Nice and Lisbon (2007) — culminate in today’s EU primary law: the TEU and TFEU, read with the Euratom Treaty. Typical use: to identify EU competences, institutional powers and fundamental freedoms, and to interpret EU legislation and case law. Jurisdiction: - England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland: post-Brexit, the EU Treaties no longer have direct effect domestically, save as preserved under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 and under the Withdrawal Agreement and the Windsor Framework. - Ireland: the Founding Treaties (TEU, TFEU and Euratom) are binding and directly effective as EU primary law.