General Principles of EU law and EU administrative law

Treaty provisions and Union legislation are only part of the story of how law can actually take effect in reality. A quite decisive factor is their implementation through administrative action. This chapter looks at the steps which take place after legislation has been passed: Who does what and by which means to make sure that value decisions made in a legislative act do not only remain ‘law on the books’? Which rights exist in that context? How can they be protected? With other words, this chapter deals with sub-legislative setting of rules and making of decisions. It asks which principles and rules exist to ensure the legality and legitimacy of such action.