(LRC Revised)

Number 27 of 1972

EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ACT 1972

REVISED

Updated to 26 August 2020

Changes to legislation

as of 10 July 2026, there are changes to this Act which have not been implemented by the Revised Acts editorial team, see highlighted entries

here

. Note that some amendments may not be in force until commenced by a commencement order or other provision.

This Revised Act is an administrative consolidation of the

European Communities Act 1972

. It is prepared by the Law Reform Commission in accordance with its function under

the

Law Reform Commission Act 1975

(3/1975) to keep the law under review and to undertake revision and consolidation

of statute law.

All Acts up to and including

Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020

(13/2020), enacted 6 August 2020, and all statutory instruments up to and including

European Union (Common Fisheries Policy) (Point System) Regulations 2020

(S.I. No. 318 of 2020), made 26 August 2020, were considered in the preparation of

this Revised Act.

Disclaimer: While every care has been taken in the preparation of this Revised Act,

the Law Reform Commission can assume no responsibility for and give no guarantees,

undertakings or warranties concerning the accuracy, completeness or up to date nature

of the information provided and does not accept any liability whatsoever arising from

any errors or omissions. Please notify any errors, omissions and comments by email

to

revisedacts@lawreform.ie.

Number

27

of

1972

EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ACT 1972

REVISED

Updated to 26 August 2020

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

Section

1.

Definitions.

2.

General provision.

3.

Power to make regulations.

3A.

Regulations to which section 3(3) of Act of 1972 applies.

4.

Effect and confirmation of regulations.

5.

Report to Houses of Oireachtas.

6.

Short title.

Number

27

of

1972

EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ACT 1972

REVISED

Updated to 26 August 2020

AN ACT TO MAKE PROVISION WITH RESPECT TO MEMBERSHIP OF THE STATE OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES.

[6

th December

, 1972]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS

Annotations

Modifications (not altering text)

C1

References to “European Communities” construed (1.12.2009) by

European Union Act 2009

(33/2009), s. 5, S.I. No. 451 of 2009.

Construction of references.

5.

— (1) References in any enactment (other than this Act and the Act of 1972) to the

European Communities shall be construed as including references to the European Union.

(2) References in any enactment (other than this Act and the Act of 1972) to the treaties

governing the European Communities shall be construed as references to the treaties

governing the European Union.

(3) References in any enactment to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community

or the Treaty establishing the European Community shall be construed as references

to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

...

Annotations

Modifications (not altering text)

C1

References to “European Communities” construed (1.12.2009) by

European Union Act 2009

(33/2009), s. 5, S.I. No. 451 of 2009.

Construction of references.

5.

— (1) References in any enactment (other than this Act and the Act of 1972) to the

European Communities shall be construed as including references to the European Union.

(2) References in any enactment (other than this Act and the Act of 1972) to the treaties

governing the European Communities shall be construed as references to the treaties

governing the European Union.

(3) References in any enactment to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community

or the Treaty establishing the European Community shall be construed as references

to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

...

Section

1.

Definitions.

2.

General provision.

3.

Power to make regulations.

3A.

Regulations to which section 3(3) of Act of 1972 applies.

4.

Effect and confirmation of regulations.

5.

Report to Houses of Oireachtas.

6.

Short title.

Number

27

of

1972