Proposal → Parliament + Council → Law
Most EU laws follow the 'ordinary legislative procedure':
1. The COMMISSION proposes the law (it has the monopoly on initiating most legislation). 2. The EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT (directly elected by citizens) debates and amends. 3. The COUNCIL OF THE EU (ministers from member-state governments) debates and amends. 4. Both must AGREE on the text (called 'co-decision'). If they don't, conciliation kicks in. 5. Once adopted, the law is published in the Official Journal and enters into force.
Citizens can lobby their MEPs at any stage. National parliaments also receive every Commission proposal under the 'yellow-card' subsidiarity check.
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