The interpretation of EU law
When interpreting EU legislation, the starting point, as with domestic law, is the meaning of the words used. If the legislation is clearly drafted it is usually not necessary to look beyond its wording. If the legislation is ambiguous other methods of interpretation are used. These include establishing the purpose of the legislation by looking at its recitals1, looking at the legal basis of secondary legislation to understand its aim and content2, or considering other language versions of the text.3