Lexipedia

Supremacy of EU law

Supremacy means EU law prevails over conflicting national law of Member States within the scope of EU competences.

The supremacy of EU law requires courts and authorities in Member States to give effect to applicable EU law over conflicting domestic rules, within the limits of EU competences. It is a constitutional doctrine of the EU legal order and is essential to uniform application. Switzerland is not bound by supremacy as a Member State would be. Conflicts involving Switzerland are instead handled through the hierarchy of Swiss law, treaty obligations, implementing legislation and the dispute mechanisms of relevant agreements.