The Court of Justice of the European Union : ensuring the protection of EU law for 500 million citizens.
Date: 2019-03-02
Institutions: Court of Justice of the European Union
Subjects: Court of Justice of the European Union, EU law, EU law - national law, General Court (EU), citizens' Europe, public hearing, translation

curia.europa.euensuring the protection  of EU law for 500 million citizensTHE COURT  OF JUSTICE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION THE COURT OF JUSTICE  
OF THE EUROPEAN UNION 

ensuring the protection of EU law  
for 500 million citizens

WELCOME

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TULEMAST
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THE EUROPEAN UNION

SVERIGE 

SUOMI 

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SLOVENIJA

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KINGDOM

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3

THE COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION: ensuring the protection of EU law for 500 million citizensTHE COURT OF JUSTICE  
OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

The Court of Justice of the European Union, the judicial authority of the European Union, ensures that EU law is 
interpreted and applied correctly.

As part of that mission, the Court of Justice of the European Union:

REVIEWS THE LEGALITY OF THE ACTS 
OF THE EU’S INSTITUTIONS, 

INTERPRETS EU LAW AT THE REQUEST OF  
NATIONAL COURTS AND TRIBUNALS.

ENSURES THAT THE MEMBER STATES COMPLY 
WITH OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE TREATIES,

IT COMPRISES

THE COURT OF JUSTICE

THE GENERAL 

COURT

2 COURTS

4

THE COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION: ensuring the protection of EU law for 500 million citizensTHE COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION  
& CITIZENS

Many rules of national law stem from EU law and affect the daily lives of citizens: employment, environment, 
consumer protection, free movement of goods, freedom to provide services, etc. The Court of Justice, together 
with national courts, which refer questions to the Court, ensures the uniform interpretation of and respect for 
European Union law. 

FREEDOM TO 
PROVIDE  
SERVICES

CONSUMER

PROTECTION

FREE MOVEMENT 
OF GOODS

EU LAW

ENVIRONMENT

35 382

JUDGMENTS & ORDERS DELIVERED

EMPLOYMENT 
LAW

More than 35 000 judgments and orders have been delivered by the two 
courts since 1952.

1952

2019

5

THE COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION: ensuring the protection of EU law for 500 million citizensCOMPOSITION 
OF THE COURT OF JUSTICE

1

JUDGE

FOR EACH MEMBER STATE 

FOR A RENEWABLE  
TERM OF SIX YEARS  

VICE-

PRESIDENT

PRESIDENT

3 YEARS

THE JUDGES ELECT THE PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT FROM AMONG THEIR NUMBER  
FOR A RENEWABLE TERM OF THREE YEARS

11

ADVOCATES  
GENERAL

The Court of Justice is composed of 28 Judges (one per 
Member State) and 11 Advocates General. The Judges and 
the Advocates General are appointed by common accord 
of the Member States for a renewable term of six years.

FOR A RENEWABLE TERM OF SIX YEARS

The Judges elect the President and Vice-President from 
among their number for a renewable term of three years. 
They act entirely impartially and independently.

6

THE COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION: ensuring the protection of EU law for 500 million citizensTHE GENERAL COURT 
OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

2

JUDGES FOR EACH MEMBER STATE 

FOR A RENEWABLE TERM OF 
SIX YEARS     

VICE-

PRESIDENT

PRESIDENT

3 YEARS

THE JUDGES ELECT THE PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT FROM AMONG THEIR NUMBER  
FOR A RENEWABLE TERM OF THREE YEARS

THE GENERAL COURT HAS JURISDICTION TO HEAR ACTIONS BROUGHT BY NATURAL OR LEGAL 
PERSONS AGAINST ACTS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS

As of 1st September 2019, the General Court has 2 judges 
per Member State. The Judges are appointed by common 
accord of the Member States for a renewable term of six 
years. The Judges elect the President and Vice-President 
from among their number for a renewable term of 
three years. They carry out their tasks with complete 
impartiality.

Over time, the General Court has become competent to 
hear cases at first instance brought by natural or legal 
persons and some cases brought by EU institutions (with 
the exception of those specifically reserved for the Court 
of Justice) in more than 40 subject areas (competition, 
intellectual property, environment, health, agriculture, 
external relations, EU staff cases, public procurement, 
access to documents, institutional law, and banking and 
finance). The judgments of the General Court can be 
appealed, on points of law only, before the Court of Justice.

7

THE COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION: ensuring the protection of EU law for 500 million citizensPUBLIC HEARINGS

CASES ARE HEARD IN OPEN COURT

JUDGES

ADVOCATE 
GENERAL

MAY PUT 
QUESTIONS

TO THE 
PARTIES

VISITORS MAY ATTEND THE PUBLIC HEARINGS  
WHICH ARE HELD DURING COURT TERMS

Cases are heard in open court, before the Judges and 
Advocate General who may put questions to the parties.

As a general rule, they take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays 
and Thursdays and start at 09:30. The length of hearings 
can vary depending on the case.

8

THE COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION: ensuring the protection of EU law for 500 million citizensCASES ARE HEARD IN OPEN COURT

VISITORS MAY ATTEND 
THE PUBLIC HEARINGS

ADVOCATES GENERAL’S 
OPINIONS

THE ADVOCATE GENERAL IS A
MEMBER OF THE COURT OF JUSTICE 
BUT IS NOT A PARTY TO THE DELIBERATION

ADVOCATE 
GENERAL

THE COURT 
OF JUSTICE

DELIVERS AN OPINION

The Advocate General is a Member of the Court of Justice 
but does not take part in the deliberations.

The Advocate General participates in the public hearings 
and some weeks later delivers an Opinion. The Advocate 
General thus suggests to the Court, entirely independently, 
a solution to the dispute. 

The Court is not required to follow that Opinion.  

If the case raises no new question of law, the Court may 
decide to give judgment without an Opinion.

10

THE COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION: ensuring the protection of EU law for 500 million citizensGRAND  
CONFERENCE ROOM

THE GENERAL MEETING OF THE COURT OF JUSTICE
TAKES PLACE IN THE GRAND CONFERENCE ROOM

JUDGES

ADVOCATES 
GENERAL

THE REGISTRAR

THE GENERAL 
MEETING OF 
THE COURT 
OF JUSTICE

ASSIGNS 

EACH CASE 
TO A FORMATION OF THE 
COURT AND DECIDES ON ANY 
MEASURES OF INQUIRY

Every week, the General Meeting of the Court of Justice 
(including Judges, Advocates General and the Registrar) 
takes place in the Grande Salle des délibérés (Grand 
Conference Room). The General Meeting decides the 
formation of the court to which each case will be assigned 
and decides on any measures of inquiry.

The Judges also meet in the Conference rooms to deliberate 
and decide on judgments. Since those deliberations are 
secret, the Judges meet on those occasions without 
interpreters or other colleagues.

12

THE COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION: ensuring the protection of EU law for 500 million citizensTHE JUDGES ALSO MEET IN THE CONFERENCE ROOMS  
TO DELIBERATE AND DECIDE ON JUDGMENTS

DELIVERY

JUDGMENTS ARE 
DELIVERED IN

OPEN  
COURT

THEY ARE AVAILABLE  
IN ALL OFFICIAL EU LANGUAGES 
ON THE COURT’S WEBSITE  

ON THE DAY OF DELIVERY

 curia.europa.eu

Judgments are delivered in open court. They are available in all official EU languages on the Court’s website on the 
day of delivery

14

THE COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION: ensuring the protection of EU law for 500 million citizensTHE COURT  
REGISTRIES

The registries are responsible for pending case files and 
the register in which all procedural acts are noted.

The registries are the starting point at their respective 
courts for any case and the contact point for parties 
during the case.

The registries help the judges in the daily administration 
of EU law.

The registries of the courts and the parties correspond 
via a computer application which enables the secure 
electronic  filing  and  transmission  of  procedural 
documents, providing litigants and the EU’s courts with 
an effective and efficient service.

15

THE COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION: ensuring the protection of EU law for 500 million citizensRESEARCH 
& DOCUMENTATION

RESEARCH AND 
DOCUMENTATION 
DIRECTORATE

ASSISTS
THE TWO  
COURTS

CASE-LAW
RESEARCH  
TOOLS

COURT 
OF JUSTICE

GENERAL  
COURT

PUBLIC

The Research and Documentation Directorate provides 
the two courts with information about the national law 
of the Member States.

It  also  makes  available  a  number  of  research  tools 
on the Court’s website (curia.europa.eu) to enhance 
understanding and awareness of the Court’s case-law.

It carries out research and legal analysis to assist the two 
courts in their judicial work.

16

THE COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION: ensuring the protection of EU law for 500 million citizensLANGUAGE ARRANGEMENTS – 
LEGAL TRANSLATION

UNITS

UNITS

SUPPORT 

LANGUAGE

MULTILINGUALISM 

23

3
552
1 215 000

IN PRACTICE

LANGUAGE 

COMBINATIONS

PAGES TRANSLATED 
IN 2018

23 language units and an Irish language team are divided 
into two directorates for legal translation. The language 
units, supported by 3 units that provide support across the 
entire service, along with the Interpretation Directorate, 
contribute  to  the  realisation  of  multilingualism, 
a fundamental value of the EU. 

The  law yer-linguists  of  the  units  mainly  translate 
procedural documents, opinions and judgments. The 
translation of these documents into all of the EU’s official 
languages reflects the principal of equal access to justice 
for all EU citizens.

17

THE COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION: ensuring the protection of EU law for 500 million citizensLANGUAGE ARRANGEMENTS – 
INTERPRETING

TO ENSURE THAT ALL CITIZENS HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE

24

OFFICIAL LANGUAGES

THE PUBLIC HEARING IS HELD IN THIS 
LANGUAGE OF PROCEDURE AND THOSE OF THE 
INTERVENING MEMBER STATES. SIMULTANEOUS 
INTERPRETATION IS PROVIDED INTO ANY OFFICIAL 
LANGUAGE AS REQUIRED

ANY ONE OF THE EU’S 24 
OFFICIAL LANGUAGES CAN 
BE USED AS THE 
LANGUAGE OF THE CASE

1

To ensure that all citizens have equal access to justice, 
any one of the EU’s 24 official languages  can be used as 
the language of the case. 

Simultaneous interpretation is provided into any official 
language to ensure that the parties, lawyers, judges and 
the advocate general can communicate effectively at 
the hearing.

18

THE COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION: ensuring the protection of EU law for 500 million citizensCOMMUNICATION IN THE VARIOUS LANGUAGES 
USED AT THE HEARING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY 
SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETATION

THE LIBRARY

250 000
10 KM 
OF BOOKS

The Library holds approximately 250 000 books and journals (over 10 KM) relating to EU law, comparative and 
international law and the laws of the EU Member States and certain non-Member States and has 2500 subscriptions 
to periodicals and 75 databases to inform the Court’s decision-making. 

21

THE COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION: ensuring the protection of EU law for 500 million citizensPERSONNEL

2 217 

28

MEMBER
STATES

24

OFFICIAL
LANGUAGES

More than 2000 nationals of the 28 Member States, all 
EU citizens, work at the Court to serve the law. They work 
in the Chambers of the Judges and Advocates General 
and in the administrative services. They have a variety 
of profiles, some specific to the Court of Justice (such as 
lawyer-linguists) and others not (lawyers, IT specialists, 
secretaries, managers…).

Called upon to work in a multicultural and multilingual 
environment, each of them speaks several of the 24 
official languages. They are specialists in their own fields, 
working to serve EU law and the European project.

22

THE COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION: ensuring the protection of EU law for 500 million citizensTHE COURT  
AND THE ENVIRONMENT

EMAS
ECO-MANAGEMENT AND AUDIT SCHEME 

+

=

ECO-
FRIENDLY
INSTITUTION

The Court of Justice of the European Union has put in 
place an Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) in 
line with Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 in order to reduce 
its environmental impact in a structured way.

On 15 December 2016 the Court was awarded its EMAS 
certificate by the Luxembourg Government.

The EMAS system allows organisations to take voluntary 
measures to lessen their impact on the environment.

23

THE COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION: ensuring the protection of EU law for 500 million citizensTHE BUILDINGS

CREATION  
OF THE COURT  
OF JUSTICE

THE FIRST  
PALAIS

ERASMUS,  
THOMAS MORE,  
ANNEX C

THE NEW PALAIS 
AND TWO TOWERS

RENOVATION  
OF ANNEXES

THIRD  
TOWER

1952

1973 1988-1994

2008

2013

2019

The seat of the Court of Justice of the European Union 
has been in Luxembourg since its creation in 1952. The 
first Palais (courthouse) of the Court was opened in 1973 
on the Kirchberg Plateau and various extensions have 
since been added.

In  2008,  the  new  Palais,  designed  by  the  architect 
Dominique Perrault, was opened. It is made up of the 
renovated original Palais, the Anneau, two towers and 
the Gallery. In 2019 the 5th extension of the Court was 
completed. This new third tower is the tallest building 
in Luxembourg.

24

THE COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION: ensuring the protection of EU law for 500 million citizensTHE THIRD TOWER HAS 29 FLOORS AND 
STANDS APPROXIMATELY 115M HIGH

La Cour de justice de l’union européenne: Garante de la protection du droit de l’union

THE COURT IN NUMBERS

NUMBER OF CASES COMPLETED  
BY JUDGMENTS OR ORDERS

COURT OF JUSTICE

21 703

SINCE

1952

JUDGMENTS & ORDERS

GENERAL COURT

13 875

SINCE

1989

JUDGMENTS & ORDERS

THE BUDGET
410 MILLION EUROS  
IN 2018

26

24

BULGARIAN, SPANISH, CZECH, DANISH, GERMAN, 
ESTONIAN, GREEK, ENGLISH, FRENCH, IRISH, 
CROATIAN, ITALIAN,LATVIAN, LITHUANIAN, 
HUNGARIAN,MALTESE, DUTCH, POLISH, 
PORTUGUESE, ROMANIAN, SLOVAK, SLOVENIAN, 
FINNISH AND SWEDISH.

LANGUAGES OF PROCEDURE

552 

LANGUAGE 
COMBINATIONS

STAFF

OFFICIALS &  
OTHER STAFF

2 217 
1 345
872

= 61%

= 39%

THE COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION: ensuring the protection of EU law for 500 million citizensMAP

ARRÊT B.E.I.

ARRÊT B.E.I.

BOULEVARD KONRAD ADENAUER

ANNEAU

PALAIS

BOULEVARD KONRAD ADENAUER

R
u
e C
h
arle
s-L
é
o
n H
a
m
m
e
s 

PP

ARRÊT ROUT BRÉCK - PAFENDALL

ANNEXE C

THOMAS MORE

ERASMUS

GALERIE

TOUR A

TOUR B

TOUR C

AVENUE JOHN F. KENNEDY

ARRÊT PHILHARMONIE - MUDAM

RUE DU FORT NIEDERGRÜNEWALD

ARRÊT NIEDERGRÜNEWALD
ARRÊT NIEDERGRÜNEWALD

ARRÊT NIEDERGRÜNEWALD
ARRÊT NIEDERGRÜNEWALD

L - 2925 Luxembourg
curia.europa.eu

Nearest bus stop (EIB) 
Bus 1/125, 8, 20, 16, 18, 120, 144, 165, 172, 192, 194, 195, 213, 740
Nearest tram stop (Rout Bréck - Pafendall or Philharmonie - Mudam)     

COURT OF JUSTICE 
OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

COURT OF JUSTICE 

GENERAL COURT 

L-2925 LUXEMBOURG 

L-2925 LUXEMBOURG 

LUXEMBOURG 

TEL. +352 4303-1

LUXEMBOURG 

TEL. +352 4303-1 

The Court on the Internet: curia.europa.eu

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Electronic Publications and Media Unit  

Print 
PDF  

ISBN:    978-92-829-3064-9 
ISBN:    978-92-829-3070-0 

doi: 10.2862/73089 
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QD-02-19-095-EN-C 
QD-02-19-095-EN-N

© European Union, 2019 / Photos © Georges Fessy / Photos © European Union

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Communications Directorate Publications and Electronic Media UnitOctober 2019Printed on eco-friendly paperENPrint 978-92-829-3064-9 doi: 10.2862/73089 QD-02-19-095-EN-C PDF  978-92-829-3070-0 doi: 10.2862/43539 QD-02-19-095-EN-N