Code of Conduct
Date: 2007-09-22
Institutions: Court of Justice
Subjects: European civil service, General Court (EU), member of the Court of Justice (EU), professional ethics

22.9.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 223/1

IV

(Notices)

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES

COURT OF JUSTICE

Code of Conduct

(2007/C 223/01)

Article 2

Integrity

THE COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Members shall not accept gifts of any kind which might call
into question their independence.

Having regard to the deliberations of the Court of Justice at its
meetings of 28 March, 24 April and 3 July 2007;

Having regard to Articles 2, 4, 6, 18 and 47 of the Statute of
the Court of Justice and to Article 5 of the Annex to that
Statute, to Articles 3 and 4 of the Rules of Procedure of the
Court of Justice and to Articles 4 and 5 of the Rules of Proce-
dure of the Court of First Instance;

Whereas, without prejudice to the applicable provisions of the
Statute and of the Rules of Procedure, it is appropriate to estab-
lish a Code of Conduct which clarifies certain obligations
arising under those provisions as regards the Members of the
Court of Justice, the Court of First Instance and the Civil Service
Tribunal;

After consulting the Court of First Instance and the Civil Service
Tribunal;

Has decided to adopt the present Code of Conduct:

Article 1

General principles

1.
This Code of Conduct shall apply to Members and former
Members of the Court of Justice, the Court of First Instance and
the Civil Service Tribunal.

2. Members shall devote themselves fully to the performance
of their duties.

3. Members shall refrain from making any statement outside
the Court which may harm the reputation of the Court or
which may be interpreted as the adoption of a position by the
Court on issues falling outside its institutional role.

Article 3

Impartiality

Members shall avoid any situation which may give rise to a
conflict of interest.

Article 4

Declaration as to financial interests

On taking up their duties, Members shall submit a declara-
1.
tion as to their financial interests to the President of the Court
of Justice.

The declaration referred to in paragraph 1 shall be worded
2.
as follows: ‘I declare that I have no interest in any property or
asset which might compromise my impartiality and my inde-
pendence in the performance of my duties’.

Article 5

Other activities

1. Members who wish to take part in an external activity
shall request prior authorisation from the Court or Tribunal of
which they are a Member. They shall undertake, however, to
comply with their obligation to be available so as to devote
themselves fully to the performance of their duties.

C 223/2

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

22.9.2007

2. Members may be authorised to participate in teaching
activities, conferences, seminars or symposia, but may not
receive any uncustomary financial remuneration for doing so.

3. Members may also be authorised to engage in activities of
an academic nature and to assume unremunerated honorary
duties in foundations or similar bodies in the cultural, artistic,
social, sporting or charitable fields and in teaching or research
establishments. In that connection, they shall undertake not to
engage in any managerial or administrative activities which
might compromise their independence or their availability or
which might give rise to a conflict of interest. The expression
‘foundations or
similar bodies’ means non-profit-making
establishments or associations which carry out activities in the
general interest in the fields referred to.

Article 6

Undertakings of Members after ceasing to hold office

After ceasing to hold office, Members shall continue to be

1.
bound by the duty of discretion.

2. Members shall undertake that after ceasing to hold office,
they will not become involved:

— in any manner whatsoever in cases which were pending
before the Court or Tribunal of which they were a Member
when they ceased to hold office;

and that, for a period of three years from the date of their
ceasing to hold office, they will not act

— as representatives of parties, in either written or oral plead-

ings, in cases before the Community judicature.

3.
Former Members may be involved as counsel, adviser or
expert in other cases or provide a legal opinion, provided that
they comply with the obligations arising under paragraph 1.

Article 7

Application of the Code

The President of the Court of Justice, assisted by a Consul-
1.
tative Committee composed of the three Members of the Court
of Justice who have been longest in office, shall be responsible
for ensuring the proper application of this Code of Conduct.

The Court of Justice shall ensure compliance with the
2.
Code and shall take decisions in cases of doubt. Where appro-
priate, it shall consult with the Court of First Instance or the
Civil Service Tribunal.

Article 8

Entry into force

This Code of Conduct shall enter into force on 1 October

1.
2007.

— in any manner whatsoever in cases directly and clearly
connected with cases, including concluded cases, which they
have dealt with as Judge or Advocate General;

2.
The declaration of the Members in office on that date
shall be submitted to the President of the Court of Justice no
later than 30 November 2007.