A directive is a legal act adopted by the EU institutions addressed to the EU Member States and, as laid down in Article 288 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, is binding as to the result to be achieved. A directive is part of the EU’s secondary law, the body of law that derives from the principles and objectives set out in the EU treaties (primary law).

The national authorities of each EU country to which the directive is addressed determine the form and the methods they use to incorporate the directive into their national law (formally known as ‘transposition’). Generally, this needs to be done within 2 years of the directive’s adoption.

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