EuroparlTV's animated guide sheds light on what happens to EU laws once they have been adopted in Brussels.

How it works: Press START to legislate

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/15842147/v003-0027-en_mf.srt

I'd like to know what happens  to EU laws once they're adopted.

To be effective, the EU laws adopted  by the Parliament and the Council

have to be correctly implemented  by all the Member States.

Although Member States are obliged  to adopt legislation,

they are free to do so according  to their own parliamentary traditions.

Generally, the states have 18 months  to fall into line.

Sometimes it's longer.  Some EU laws allow for derogations

and much longer intervals  of three, four or even five years.

That said,  not all the states play the game.

Often supported by MEPs, this is when  the European Commission intervenes.

It keeps an eye on things  as the guardian of European laws.

If the Commission learns of  or discovers a delay or error

it can start proceedings  against those at fault.

And that applies to every state  without exception.

On average, each EU country must face  37 infringement procedures.

That's a lot but in 88% of cases  the Commission's red card is sufficient

But even so, out of the 2,000  European directives in existence,

For Member States that persist in  not playing the game there is a solution.

At the request of the Commission,  the European judges take over.

For repeat offences  or non-compliance with EU laws,

States can be sentenced  to pay daily penalties

Although rare, when punishments  are imposed, they're harsh.

Between 2000 and 2001,  Greece had to pay 5.4 million euros

for non-compliance with a directive  on toxic waste.

But up till now, France has been  most heavily punished.

In 2005, France had to pay  57.7 million euros in penalties

and 20 million euros in fines for  non-compliance with a law on fishing.

were the three best states  in the European Union.

They recorded the lowest rates  of infringement.

But the game's never over. Every year  there are new laws to transpose.