EUR-Charts

Following recent legal developments, the fourth box must read:

Further:
New title on “Closer cooperation”, allowing for variable geometry/specific law for (groups of) Member States instead of uniform law for all; see Chart 1/7. Provides a formal mechanism for introducing specific law. This title allows (groups of) Member States to introduce further harmonising law amongst themselves but within the framework of the EU.

Note:
Not used for some time. In fact, Member States have actively sought to avoid using this procedure; e.g. the Prüm Convention (building on the Schengen law) was concluded outside the EU Treaty framework as an ordinary treaty under public international law. First example: Decision 2010/405/EU (authorising enhanced cooperation in the area of the law applicable to divorce and legal separation), Regulation 1259/2010/EU (law applicable to divorce and legal separation).