The entire body of European laws is known as the acquis communautaire.

This includes all the treaties, regulations and directives passed by the European institutions as well as judgements laid down by the Court of Justice.

The term is most often used in connection with preparations by the 12 candidate countries to join the union.

They must adopt, implement and enforce all the acquis to be allowed to join the EU.

As well as changing national laws, this often means they must set up or change the necessary administrative or judicial bodies which oversee the legislation.

For enlargement negotiations, the acquis have been divided into 31 chapters, each of which must be 'closed' by the candidates.