Summary

The article focuses on the characteristics of the European Communities as a supranational organisation: competence in areas in which, under classical international law, only states have competence; supremacy of the EC law over national law and direct applicability of the EC law in the Member States; extensive legal protection and majority voting.
The author reaches the conclusion that although the European Communities possess some features which only characterise states, they do not constitute a state. However, the European Communities are a new type of international organisation.