Court of Justice
Court of Justice and Court of First Instance of the European Communities
Court of Justice
Maurice Lagrange, The Court of Justice of the European Communities from the Schuman Plan to the European Union
TextMaurice Lagrange, who drafted the ECSC Treaty and was subsequently Advocate General at the Court of Justice for 12 years, retraces the history of the Court of Justice from the Schuman Plan to the European Union.
Albert Van Houtte, Memories of the Court of Justice 1953-1982
TextAlbert Van Houtte, Registrar at the Court of Justice from 1953 to 1982, retraces 'the short history of the Court' based on his memories, in a work published on the 35th anniversary of this institution. In an informal and sometimes anecdotal tone, it comments on the installation of the Court in Luxembourg, the successive changes in premises, the first tasks of the Court, the origin of the Court's seal and the judges' robes, etc.
First session of the ECSC Court of Justice (Luxembourg, 10 December 1952)
ImageOn 10 December 1952, in Luxembourg, the first Judges of the Court of Justice of the European Coal and Steel Community took the oath.
First session of the ECSC Court of Justice (Luxembourg, 10 December 1952)
ImageOn 10 December 1952, in Luxembourg, the first Judges of the Court of Justice of the European Coal and Steel Community took the oath.
Ansprache von Jean Monnet (Luxemburg, 10. Dezember 1952)
Audio extractIn seiner Rede anlässlich der Eröffnungssitzung des Gerichtshof der EGKS beschreibt der Präsident der Hohen Behörde Jean Monnet den Platz und die Rolle der Institution in der Funktionsweise der EGKS. Er betont das supranationale Wesen der Aufgaben, die dieser neue Gerichtshof erfüllen muss.
Treaty establishing the EEC - Convention on certain institutions common to the European Communities (Rome, 25 March 1957) — Revised version 1995
TextConvention on certain institutions common to the European Communities annexed to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community. Revised version.
Ansprache von Joseph Bech (Luxemburg, 10. Dezember 1952)
Audio extractIn seiner Rede anlässlich der Eröffnungssitzung des Gerichtshof der Europäischen Gemeinschaft für Kohle und Stahl (EGKS) spricht der luxemburgische Außenminister Joseph Bech von einem Wendepunkt in der Geschichte der internationalen Rechtsprechung. Der Gerichtshof der EGKS ist tatsächlich der erste Hof, dessen Entscheidungen für die Staaten bindend sind. Das ergibt sich aus den supranationalen Befugnissen im Vertrag, den die Sechs am 18. April 1951 in Paris unterzeichneten.
Ansprache von Joseph Meurice (Luxemburg, 10. Dezember 1952)
Audio extractAm 10. Dezember 1952 ergreift der belgische Außenhandelsminister Joseph Meurice auf der Eröffnungssitzung des Gerichtshof der Europäischen Gemeinschaft für Kohle und Stahl das Wort. Er unterstreicht die wichtige Rolle des Hofes für die Wahrung der "Grundlagencharta" der EGKS.
Rede von Massimo Pilotti (Luxemburg, 10. Dezember 1952)
Audio extractDer erste Präsident des Gerichtshofes der EGKS ist der Italiener Massimo Pilotti. In seiner Eröffnungsrede unterstreicht er die schwierige Arbeit, die den Gerichtshof erwartet und bei der es um die Entscheidung einer neuen Art von Konflikten geht: Mögliche Konflikte zwischen Staaten und einer supranationalen Behörde.
First judgment of the Court of Justice of the ECSC, Case 1/54 (20 December 1954)
TextFirst and last pages of the first judgment delivered by the Court of Justice of the ECSC on 20 December 1954. The first page features the 'Curia' emblem, the words 'Court of Justice of the European Coal and Steel Community' and the circular seal. The last page presents the operative part of the judgment with the signatures of the President, Judges and Registrar.
'Towards a European judicial system' from Le Populaire (4 February 1958)
TextOn 4 February1958, an article in Le Populaire, carries out an initial evaluation of the ECSC Court of Justice and mentions the future Court of Justice of the European Communities.
Speech by Andreas Matthias Donner (Luxembourg, 7 October 1958)
TextSpeech given on 7 October 1958 by the President of the Court of Justice, Andreas Matthias Donner, on the occasion of the establishment of the single Court of Justice of the European Communities. In his speech, Donner emphasises the scale of the responsibility entrusted to the members of the Court with a view to developing the rules of law in a new domain and, in so doing, pursuing the objectives of the three Communities.
Speech by Paul Finet (Luxembourg, 7 October 1958)
TextPaul Finet, President of the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Communitye from 13 January 1958 to 14 September 1959, delivers a speech at the solemn hearing of the Court of Justice of the European Communities of 7 October 1958, the date on which the single Court of Justice takes office.
First judgment of the Court of Justice, Case 7/61 (19 December 1961)
TextFirst page of the first judgment concerning the Treaty of Rome delivered by the Court of Justice on 19 December 1961.
Allocution de Jacques Santer à l'occasion des 40 ans d'existence de la Cour de justice au Luxembourg (4 décembre 1992)
TextAllocution prononcée le 4 décembre 1992 par Jacques Santer, Premier ministre luxembourgeois, à l'occasion des quarante années d'existence de la Cour de justice des Communautés européennes au Grand-Duché de Luxembourg.
Judgment of the Court of Justice, Bosman, Case C-415/93 (15 December 1995)
TextFirst and last pages of a recent judgment from the Bosman Case, delivered by the Court of Justice on 15 December 1995. The presentation of the first page has been redesigned and the circular seal has been replaced by a sticker. The last page still presents the operative part of the judgment with the signatures of the President, Judges and Registrar.
Gil Carlos Rodríguez iglesias, The EC Court of Justice and the Institutional reform of the European Union
TextIn April 2000 in the run-up to institutional reform, the President of the Court of Justice, Gil Carlos Rodríguez Iglesias, appraises the Court of Justice.
‘Gil Carlos Rodriguez Iglesias: Reforming the European Court of Justice’ from Le Monde (28 April 2000)
TextIn an article published on 28 April 2000 in the French daily newspaper Le Monde, Gil Carlos Rodríguez Iglesias, President of the Court of Justice of the European Communities, calls for the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) responsible for the reform of the Treaties with a view to enlargement not to neglect the reforms required by the judicial institution of the European Union in order for it to continue to exercise its powers.
‘The European Court of Justice fears suffocation’ from Le Figaro (22 May 2000)
TextOn 22 May 2000, the French daily newspaper Le Figaro devotes an article to the Court of Justice of the European Communities: its aims, its tasks, the influence of its case-law and its relations with national legal systems.
Speech by Gil Carlos Rodríguez Iglesias (Luxembourg, 4 December 2002)
TextSpeech delivered by Gil Carlos Rodríguez Iglesias, President of the Court of Justice of the European Communities, at the formal sitting of 4 December 2002 held as part of the celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the Court.
Speech by Gil Carlos Rodríguez Iglesias (Luxembourg, 4 December 2002)
ImagePhotograph taken during the speech made by Gil Carlos Rodríguez Iglesias, President of the Court of Justice, at the formal sitting of 4 December 2002 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Court.
Court of Justice
Rede von Gil Carlos Rodríguez Iglesias (Luxemburg, 4. Dezember 2002)
Audio extractAnlässlich des fünfzigjährigen Bestehens des Gerichtshofes der Europäischen Gemeinschaften hält der Präsident Gil Carlos Rodríguez Iglesias am 4. Dezember 2002 eine Rede, in der er die Geschichte der Institution zurückverfolgt und ihren wichtigsten Beitrag hervorhebt, d. h. die Grundzüge der gemeinschaftlichen Rechtsordnung zu schaffen.
The Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg and the speakers at the formal session of the Court of Justice (4 December 2002)
ImagePhotograph taken on 4 December 2002, during the formal session of the Court of Justice on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Court. From left to right, Lene Espersen, Danish Justice Minister and President of the Council, Ludwig Adamovich, President of the Austrian Constitutional Court, Pat Cox, President of the European Parliament, Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission, the Grand Duchess and the Grand Duke of Luxembourg and Gil Carlos Rodríguez Iglesias, President of the Court of Justice.
Interview mit Pierre Pescatore: ein privilegiertes Rechtsprechungsorgan (Luxemburg, 12. November 2003)
Audio extractIn einem Interview mit dem CVCE im November 2003 beschreibt Pierre Pescatore, von 1967 bis 1985 Richter am Gerichtshof der Europäischen Gemeinschaften, den Gerichtshof hinsichtlich der intellektuellen Fähigkeiten seiner Mitglieder und der materiellen Möglichkeiten seiner Dienste als privilegierte Instanz der Rechtsprechung.
Interview with Vassilios Skouris in Le Quotidien (18 April 2005)
TextIn an interview published in the Luxembourg newspaper Le Quotidien on 18 April 2005, Vassilios Skouris, President of the Court of Justice of the European Communities since 7 October 2003, explains the role and the development of the institution over which he presides, assesses its work in 2004 — the year in which the Union was enlarged to include ten new Member States — and outlines his expectations for the future.
Court of First Instance
Council Decision 88/591/ECSC, EEC, Euratom (24 October 1988)
TextCouncil Decision of 24 October 1988 establishing a Court of First Instance of the European Communities (88/591/ECSC, EEC, Euratom) as amended by the corrigendum published in the Official Journal of the European Communities.
Address by Ole Due (25 September 1989)
TextAddress delivered by Ole Due, President of the Court of Justice, on the occasion of the taking of the oath by the first Members of the Court of First Instance of the European Communities on 25 September 1989.
Address by José Luis da Cruz Vilaça (25 September 1989)
TextAddress delivered by José Luis da Cruz Vilaça, President of the Court of First Instance, during the solemn hearing of 25 September 1989 on the occasion of the establishment of the Court of First Instance of the European Communities.
Decision of the President of the Court (11 October 1989)
TextDecision of the President of the Court declaring the constitution of the Court of First Instance of the European Communities.
Council Decision 93/350/Euratom, ECSC, EEC (8 June 1993)
TextCouncil Decision of 8 June 1993 amending Decision 88/591/ECSC, EEC, Euratom establishing a Court of First Instance of the European Communities (93/350/Euratom, ECSC, EEC).
Council Decision 94/149/ECSC, EC (7 March 1994)
TextCouncil Decision of 7 March 1994 amending Decision 93/350/Euratom, ECSC, EEC amending Decision 88/591/ECSC, EEC, Euratom establishing the Court of First Instance of the European Communities (94/149/ECSC, EC).
Council Decision 1999/291/EC, ECSC, Euratom (26 April 1999)
TextCouncil Decision of 26 April 1999 amending Decision 88/591/ECSC, EEC, Euratom establishing a Court of First Instance of the European Communities to enable it to give decisions in cases when constituted by a single judge (1999/291/EC, ECSC, Euratom).
Council Decision 88/591/ECSC, EEC, Euratom (24 October 1988)
TextFollowing the entry into force of the Treaty of Nice, this Decision is repealed with the exception of Article 3 insofar as the Court of First Instance exercises, pursuant to the said Article, the jurisdiction conferred on the Court of Justice by the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community.
Council Decision 88/591/ECSC, EEC, Euratom - consolidated version (24 October 1988)
TextConsolidated version of the Council Decision 88/591/ECSC, EEC, Euratom of 24 October 1988 establishing a Court of First Instance of the European Communities, such as applied before the entry into force of the Treaty of Nice.
'The Court of First Instance of the European Communities - an infant prodigy?' from Cahiers de droit européen
TextExamination of the reasons behind the establishment of a Court of First Instance.
'The Court of First Instance of the European Communities' from Revue du Marché commun et de l'Union européenne (July-August 1989)
TextExamination of the reasons behind the creation of a Court of First Instance.
Presentation by Bo Vesterdorf to the ‘discussion circle’ on the Court of Justice (24 February 2003)
TextIn a presentation made to the ‘discussion circle’ on the Court of Justice on 24 February 2003, Bo Vesterdorf, President of the Court of First Instance of the European Communities, discusses the changes experienced by the Court since the entry into force of the Nice Treaty and identifies areas where further reforms are desirable.
Civil Service Tribunal
Council Decision 2004/752/EC, Euratom (2 November 2004)
TextCouncil Decision of 2 November 2004 establishing the European Union Civil Service Tribunal (2004/752/EC, Euratom).
Decision of the President of the Court of Justice (2 December 2005)
TextDecision of the President of the Court of Justice declaring the constitution of the European Union Civil Service Tribunal.