Direct effect
Direct effect allows individuals to invoke certain EU law provisions before national courts when they are clear, precise and unconditional.
In EU law, direct effect means that a rule may confer rights or obligations enforceable before national courts without further implementing measures. The doctrine is central inside the EU and varies by type of act and whether the dispute is against the state or a private party. For Switzerland, direct effect in the EU sense does not operate automatically. Comparable questions arise where a bilateral agreement or Swiss implementing law is sufficiently precise to be relied on before Swiss authorities or courts.