62023CJ0762_SUM
Case C‑762/23
RL and Others
v
Curtea de Apel București
(Request for a preliminary ruling from the Curtea de Apel Bucureşti)
Judgment of the Court (Seventh Chamber) of 5 June 2025
(Reference for a preliminary ruling – Payment of severance pay to judges and prosecutors upon retirement – Suspension and cancellation of that payment for reasons connected to the need to eliminate a budget deficit – Article 2 TEU – Second subparagraph of Article 19(1) TEU – Principle of judicial independence – Powers of the legislature and executive of Member States to reduce judges’ remuneration – Conditions)
EU law – Principles – Right to effective judicial protection – Principle of judicial independence – Scope
(Arts 2 and 19(1), 2nd subpara., TEU; Charter of fundamental rights of the European Union, Art. 47)
(see paragraphs 19-23)
Member States – Obligations – Provision of remedies sufficient to ensure effective legal protection – Observance of the principle of judicial independence – National rules defining objectively the detailed rules for determining judges’ remuneration – Determination by the executive and the legislature of a Member State – Amendment of those rules for the future – Reduction in the amount of judges’ and retired judges’ remuneration – No infringement – Conditions – Verification by the referring court
(Arts 2 and 19(1), 2nd subpara., TEU; Charter of fundamental rights of the European Union, Art. 47, 2nd para.)
(see paragraphs 24-27, 29-39)
Member States – Obligations – Provision of remedies sufficient to ensure effective legal protection – Observance of the principle of judicial independence – Severance pay paid upon retirement to judges and prosecutors with a long length of service in the judiciary – National legislation suspending then repealing that severance pay on account of the need to eliminate an excessive budget deficit – Whether permissible
(Arts 2 and 19(1), 2nd subpara., TEU; Art 126(2) TFEU; Charter of fundamental rights of the European Union, Art. 47, 2nd para.)
(see paragraphs 41-49, operative part)
See the text of the decision.