The European Community has had a decidedly significant impact upon the legal systems of the Member States. It was established in 1957 by the Treaty of Rome, the main objectives being to develop stability throughout Europe by means of encouraging a closer union between member states. It has evolved a long way since having developed its own institutions and an autonomous legal system, with laws that bind each member state ultimately enabling it to regulate the rights and obligations of its members. It achieves this primarily through Treaties, a primary form of EC legislation that forms the basis of all...
remains unclear so that ultimately there is a situation where individuals no longer are aware precisely what the law is, undermining the rule of law.

However despite this, it is important to place the doctrine in context, as although it is certainly a significant feature of the EC, the ECJ does lack jurisdiction over some areas of community law and therefore cannot determine the legal effect and nature of certain provisions. Furthermore the political and legal environment in which the community operates is highly dynamic and it is likely that other means of legal enforcement may become as important.