1) Behests 2) Orders 1) Instructions 
These are instructions from Europe to individual countries to meet particular objectives. Each member state chooses the most appropriate way to achieve these objectives through their own legislative system.
A type of legislation issued by the EU which is binding on Member States in terms of objective but which leaves choice of method to Member States. :: NRA (10th Edition) 
At an official level, directives are instructions, guidelines or orders issued by a governing or regulatory body. They may amount to law. In a less formal way a directive equates to an instruction issued by an executive or manager or organizational department