EU law is not a distant subject – it determines data protection, procurement, product approval and the posting of workers in everyday business.
European law comprises the primary law of the Treaties – in particular the TEU and the TFEU – and the secondary law made by the EU institutions. It organises cooperation between the member states, carries the single market and safeguards core values such as the rule of law and fundamental rights. For businesses it reaches directly into practice: through regulations that apply without transposition, and through national statutes implementing directives.
Our services in European law
- Fundamental freedoms: free movement of goods, services, establishment and capital as well as free movement of workers – testing national restrictions against EU law.
- Single market law in practice: product safety and conformity assessment, consumer protection in cross-border trade, posting of workers.
- Data protection: GDPR compliance, cross-border data flows, proceedings before the data protection authority – see also data protection law.
- Procurement and state aid: application of thresholds, review proceedings, state aid assessment of subsidies.
- Proceedings: suggesting references for preliminary rulings, complaints to the European Commission, support in infringement proceedings, actions for annulment.
- State liability: claims arising from sufficiently serious breaches of EU law.
Legal acts and their effect
- Regulations apply directly and bindingly in all member states, without national transposition.
- Directives bind as to the result but leave the choice of means; they take effect through implementing legislation and, where transposition is inadequate, may in certain circumstances apply directly.
- Decisions bind only their addressees, but bind them completely.
- Recommendations and opinions are not binding but set the direction and are drawn on in interpretation.
Precedence means your rights apply now
EU law takes precedence over national law in its application. Courts and authorities must disapply conflicting national provisions – this is not an academic proposition but a practical argument against burdensome decisions and rules. Where a question of interpretation is open, preliminary ruling proceedings under Article 267 TFEU come into consideration: the national court refers the question and the proceedings are stayed pending the answer. We prepare such suggestions so that they have a prospect of success.
European law for Salzburg businesses
Salzburg borders Bavaria; cross-border situations are everyday matters here – posting employees, distributing into Germany, employing commuters, supply chains across the border. We examine whether national requirements are compatible with EU law, coordinate with firms in the member states concerned and conduct the proceedings before Austrian courts, which are the real stage on which EU law is applied.
Test the rule before accepting it
Not every national requirement withstands scrutiny under EU law. Where a provision noticeably restricts your business, it is worth testing it against the fundamental freedoms. Describe the situation to us – we will tell you whether that route holds.