To assist you in understanding and enforcing your European Union rights and obligations, you can avail of the Your Europe Advice service which provides free and personalised advice on your rights in the EU - in your own language and within a week of your request. It can clarify the European law that applies in your case, explain how you can exercise your EU rights and obtain redress and signpost you to a body that can offer further help if needed. You can submit an enquiry via the web formor via the free phone number - EUROPE DIRECT - 00800 6 7 8 9 10 11 (ask for Your Europe Advice).

If you need to discuss your case personally, you may fix an appointment with the Your Europe Adviser.

Your Europe Legal Adviser

The Your Europe Legal Adviser is available by prior appointment to provide you with information and advice on your rights in the European Union.  If you have a problem which relates to your rights in the European Union, you can make an appointment for a consultation with the Your Europe Legal Adviser by telephone at 01 634 1111 or by email at eu-ie-info-request@ec.europa.eu or by personal appointment through the European Commission Representation in Ireland at European Union House, 18 Dawson Street, Dublin 2. During 2012, Ms Duffy will be available for consultations by prior appointment on June 22nd (morning) and on July 17th (morning). Further dates will be added in due course.

The advice given by the Your Europe Legal Adviser is an independent advice and should not be considered to be the opinion of the European Commission nor will advice given be binding upon the Commission.

The Your Europe Legal Adviser will also deliver presentations and seminars to interested groups on issues such as "Rights for Older People in the EU" and "Legal Entitlements for Women in the EU".  If you are a member of an organisation which would be interested in such a presentation, the Your Europe Legal Adviser would be delighted to hear from you. 

All services provided by the Your Europe Legal Adviser are free of charge.

The European Union – Legal Perspective

The European Union has created and is constantly developing a body of law distinct from that of the respective Member States. Notwithstanding the distinction between European Union and national law, the law of the European Union takes priority over national law and must be respected by the Member States.

To avail of the legal protection offered to citizens in the European Union, it is necessary to be aware of the Sources of Law in the European Union. The sources of law of the European Union provide a suite of rights affecting the lives of all those who live, work and travel in the European Union. Nationals of Member States of the European Union and their families enjoy special Citizens’ Rights and are subject to certain obligations.

To exercise and enjoy the rights conferred by membership of the European Union, it is important to be aware of the diverse means of Enforcement of European Union Rights. The nature of European Union law is such that issues of European Union law may, in general, be litigated before national courts without recourse to the Community courts. In fact, access to the Community courts by citizens is limited. The range of Forms of Action before the European Union Courts together with details of the proper plaintiff(s) and defendant(s) in each action are set out below.

Disclaimer

These web-pages on European Union law and legal rights are included for the general information of the public. The information provided does not constitute legal advice, as such. Nor can it be construed as an interpretation of European Union law by the European Commission.