CJEU

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) based in Luxembourg was established in 1952 and is a leading institution within the European Union, which has a significant impact on the EU's legal framework.

Interpretation of EU law

The CJEU plays a central role in ensuring a consistent interpretation and application of EU laws in all Member States, providing guidance on the understanding and implementation of EU legislation.

Conflict resolution

As the supreme appellate court for matters relating to EU law, the CJEU facilitates the resolution of disputes arising from EU legislation and treaties, with individuals, businesses and Member States seeking redress.

The CJEU protects the rights of EU citizens by monitoring the observance of principles such as equality, non-discrimination and the rule of law by the EU institutions and Member States.

The CJEU consists of two distinct judicial structures:

• Court of Justice - It consists of one judge from each Member State, together with eleven Advocates General who assist the Court by providing legal opinions on cases. The Court of Justice is responsible for dealing with requests for preliminary rulings from national courts, examining specific actions for annulment and supervising appeals.
• General Court - It consists of two judges from each Member State and focuses primarily on assessing actions for annulment initiated by individuals, businesses and organizations challenging EU decisions. In practical terms, the General Court's jurisdiction often extends to cases involving competition law, state aid, trade, agriculture and trademarks.

The third entity was the Civil Service Tribunal, which was competent to resolve only internal disputes between the EU and its officials, and between all EU bodies or agencies and their staff. It was established in 2004 and ceased operations on 1 September 2016, as its jurisdiction was transferred to the General Court on the occasion of the reform of the judicial structure of the European Union. In both courts, judges appoint a president who serves for a renewable period of three years, ensuring the efficient functioning of these crucial EU judicial bodies. CJEU judges are expected to act independently and impartially. They are selected on the basis of their legal knowledge and experience and do not represent the interests of their home countries.

The CJEU conducts its proceedings in all 24 official languages of the European Union. This linguistic diversity ensures that all EU citizens have access to and understand the decisions of the Court.

The CJEU's jurisdiction continues to expand as the EU evolves. It deals with a wide range of legal issues, including competition law, trade, environmental law, human rights and more.