The Member States 25 March 1957, Consolidated version of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union#PART SIX - INSTITUTIONAL AND FINANCIAL PROVISIONS#TITLE I - INSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS#Chapter 2 - Legal acts of the Union, adoption procedures and other provisions#Section 2 - Procedures for the adoption of acts and other provisions#Article 298

Legal acts shall state the reasons on which they are based and shall refer to any proposals, initiatives, recommendations, requests or opinions required by the Treaties. When considering draft legislative acts, the European Parliament and the Council shall refrain from adopting acts not provided for by the relevant legislative procedure in the area in question. Article 297 (ex Article 254 TEC) 1.