MMUlr Sep 8, 2010:

With Steffen and philgoddard In EU context - as Steffen explained - Directive = Richtlinie in German (you will find numerous Directives in all the relevant EU languages in the EU website).

AND: Directives / Richtlinien are binding and have to be implemented in country law - so YOUR Richtlinien definition (nicht bindend, werden nicht publiziert) is wrong within EU terminology.

My 2 cents :-)

philgoddard Sep 7, 2010:

I think whoever wrote this text has no idea what they're talking about, and I'd query it with the client.

Gertraud K. Sep 7, 2010:

directive and guidelines Direktive-directive und Richtlinien-guideline .
Waere mein Vorschlag.

writeaway Sep 7, 2010:

Thanks Here's what Linguee has:
http://www.linguee.de/deutsch-englisch?sourceoverride=german...
http://www.linguee.de/deutsch-englisch/search?sourceoverride...

So your text says that the German now uses Direktive and Richtlinie much the same as we do in En? Wow

Hmmmm

Sarah Port (asker) Sep 7, 2010:

I am now posting the relevant phrases in German to give more context:
Direktive: ist rechtlich bindend und einzuhalten. Diese wird von der Europäischen Kommission publiziert und ist innerhalb von einigen Jahren von jedem Mitgliedsstatt zu ratifizieren. Geringfügige, textliche Anpassungen sowie zusätzliche Anforderungen sind in der nationalen Umsetzung möglich.

Richtlinien: sind rechtlich nicht bindend und werden nicht von der Europäischen Kommission publiziert. Diese können in Nationales Gesetz umgewandelt werden. Richtlinien können zum Beispiel von Behörden, Gesundheitsorganisationen, einzelne Ministerien oder Ämter erstellt werden.

writeaway Sep 7, 2010:

Agree with Steffen I didn't bother replying since no German text was posted, just additional explanations in English. What you have is very strange indeed. But without more context and without seeing what the German actually says, there isn't much anyone can do to help.

Steffen Walter Sep 7, 2010:

Serious concerns Pending further information/context, I am seriously questioning the reasoning in your source text. EEC/EU directives (German: Richtlinien!) are legally binding upon the member states. See example at http://ppebruint.europarl.eu.int/press/showpr.asp?PRControlD...
On a related note, the nominative of the German is "Direktiv<B>e</B>".

Sarah Port (asker) Sep 7, 2010:

The text I am translating defines what 'Direktive' and 'Richtlinien' actually are. It states that 'Direktive' are legally binding and published by the Commission, whilst 'Richtlinien' are not legally binding and are not published by the Commission.

writeaway Sep 7, 2010:

Please post the sentence in German It's impossible to say anything for certain without seeing the actual context. You already have two of the dictionary translations but if the prob is knowing when to use what, we have to see the context