Which term describes a legislative act that sets goals for EU countries to achieve?

The term that describes a legislative act that sets goals for EU countries to achieve is a European directive. A European directive establishes objectives that member states must achieve, but it allows flexibility in how they implement these objectives, as each country can decide the best means to achieve compliance within its own legal framework. This approach is intended to ensure that while all member states work towards the same goals, they can take into account their individual circumstances and legal systems.

In contrast, regulations are binding legislative acts that apply directly and uniformly across all member states without the need for national implementation. Proposals refer to suggestions or draft legislation put forward by the European Commission but do not themselves constitute binding legal acts. Policy, in a broad sense, refers to the overarching plans and principles guiding the actions of the EU but lacks the specific legal enforceability that a directive provides.