Acts adopted under the ordinary legislative procedure (OLP). This is the most commonly used procedure for adopting EU legislative acts in the EU. It involves the joint adoption by the European Parliament and the Council of a European Commission proposal for a Regulation, Directive or Decision (Article 289(1) TFEU). The procedure for adopting legislative acts under the OLP is set out in Article 294 of the TFEU. In practice, the European Parliament and Council, as co-legislators, both have important (and equally weighted) roles to play in negotiating, shaping and adopting OLP legislative acts. For more on the OLP, see Practice note, Ordinary legislative procedure.

Acts adopted under one of two special legislative procedures established by Article 289(2) of the TFEU: the consultation procedure and the consent procedure. For more information, see Practice note, Adopting EU laws: overview.

Acts adopted, in the specific cases provided for by the Treaties, on the initiative of a group of member states or of the European Parliament, on a recommendation from the European Central Bank or at the request of the Court of Justice of the EU or the European Investment Bank.