Fællesskabets retsorden er navnlig særegen derved, at folkeretten dels ikke her spiller en stor rolle i forholdet mellem institutionerne og medlemsstaterne, dels ikke mellem medlemsstaterne med hensyn til traktaternes anvendelsesområde.
The special character of the Community legal order is particularly clearly demonstrated by the fact that international law is not called upon to play a major role either in the relations between the institutions and the Member States or, in the field of application of the Treaties, between the Member States themselves.