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Reference.org
Framework decision
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<p> A framework decision was a kind of legislative act of the <a href="/facts/European_Union/6GYcR8qM">European Union</a> used exclusively within the EU's competences in <a href="/facts/Police_and_Judicial_Co-operation_in_Criminal_Matters/hGuAsSAR">police and judicial co-operation in criminal justice matters</a>. Framework decisions were similar to <a href="/facts/Directive_(European_Union)/KS076mKR">directives</a> in that they required member states to achieve particular results without dictating the means of achieving that result. However unlike directives, framework decisions were not capable of <a href="/facts/Direct_effect/zgasLjd8">direct effect</a>, they were only subject to the optional jurisdiction of the <a href="/facts/European_Court_of_Justice/yhkq7Y7Q">European Court of Justice</a> and enforcement proceedings could not be taken by the <a href="/facts/European_Commission/Cc5JgbEI">European Commission</a> for any failure to <a href="/facts/Transposition_(law)/RFgMarhP">transpose</a> a framework decision into domestic law. </p><p>Framework decisions were created in the <a href="/facts/Amsterdam_Treaty/xYdXekRS">Amsterdam Treaty</a> and replaced joint actions which were legal instruments available under the <a href="/facts/Maastricht_Treaty/MrM1lH3P">Maastricht Treaty</a>. The Lisbon Treaty abolished framework decisions and the EU can now enact directives and <a href="/facts/Regulation_(European_Union)/3V8Mynly">regulations</a> in the area of <a href="/facts/Criminal_justice/7dJlkbS3">criminal justice</a> by means of the <a href="/facts/Ordinary_legislative_procedure/FL8nttyH">ordinary legislative procedure</a>. </p>