The regulation is a European legal act. In general, it is mandatory in all its provisions: Member States are required to apply as defined in the regulations. The Regulation is directly applicable in the legal systems of Member States. Only the measures provided for in Regulation may be taken by the authorities of the Member States.

It is binding on all legal subjects, including individuals, states, institutions. This differentiates it from the decision, other European Act mandated in all its provisions, but only to designated recipients.

There are two types of regulations:
those adopted on a proposal from the Commission by the Council of the European Union (Council of Ministers) alone or with the European Parliament;
those adopted by the Commission, as the power of its own or in pursuance of decisions of the Council of the European Union.

The publication of regulations in the Official Journal of the European Union is mandatory. It is done in the “Acts whose publication is obligatory”. The non-publication does not the illegality of the settlement but excludes the binding. The regulations come into force on the date specified in them or, failing that, the 20th day following their publication.

An example of regulations in the fight against terrorism, the Parliament and the Council, acting by means of regulations in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure, provide a framework for administrative measures with regard to capital movements and payments (art. 75 TFEU).