There is no 'EU law', there are various levels of different EU policy documents. Directives should be implemented (somehow) in the member states legislatures, but it's not that unusual that they are not met within the deadline (or even in a way that was intended). It's an obligation for the governments, who are bound by the EU treaties, not the citizens and businesses (though in theory, you can sue your government for not complying, if it hurts you somehow, but the european court is still just an international treaty). Law is something that directly binds everyone in the given country, EU directive is not a law as such.

It'd be nice if at least someone could tell the difference here. (Especially when he is writing an article about it.)