EC Law and International Agreements of the Member States—An Ambivalent Relationship?

Abstract

The European Community (EC) was established in 1957 on the basis of an international treaty. The Treaty of Rome formed part of international law, though the Court of Justice was soon eager to emphasise that the ‘Community constitutes anew legal orderof international law’, and that:By contrast with ordinary international treaties, the E … C Treaty has created its own legal system which, on the entry into force, became an integral part of the legal systems of the Member States and which their Courts are bound to apply.