In the EU system, the term "preparatory act" is used to refer to proposed legislation (as opposed to final legislation or act). The broader term "preparatory documents" means all documents corresponding to the various stages of the legislative or budgetary process. They include Commission legislative proposals, Council common positions, legislative and budgetary resolutions and initiatives of the European Parliament, and opinions of the European Economic and Social Committee and of the Committee of the Regions, etc.
If you wish to research the history of EU legislation or track pending legislation, it is helpful to have some understanding of the EU legislative process. There are four ways proposed legislation may become law in the EU: co-decision (COD); Cooperation (SYN); Assent; and Consultation (CNS).
Under the Lisbon Treaty, co-decision has become the "ordinary legislative procedure". Most EU legislation is adopted by the co-decision procedure. The co-decision procedure requires that legislation be adopted by both the European Parliament and Council.
