CJEUs

CJEU is the Court of Justice of the European Union, the umbrella term for the EU’s judiciary charged with ensuring the uniform interpretation and application of EU law across its member states. The CJEU consists of two main courts: the Court of Justice and the General Court. The Civil Service Tribunal existed in the past but was merged into the General Court in 2016, and its functions are now handled within that court.

The Court of Justice comprises one judge from each member state and a number of Advocates General who prepare non-binding legal opinions on cases brought before the court. The General Court is composed of judges appointed by the member states; it handles cases brought by individuals, companies, and, in some areas, member states and EU institutions, particularly in civil and administrative matters such as competition law, state aid, and other areas of EU law.

The CJEU handles several types of proceedings. Preliminary rulings allow national courts to seek interpretations of EU law to ensure uniform application across the Union. Direct actions include actions for annulment of EU acts, actions for failure to fulfil obligations by member states or EU institutions, and actions for damages for breach of EU law. Appeals on points of law are possible in defined circumstances.

Judgments of the Court of Justice and the General Court are binding on EU institutions and member states, contributing to the uniform application and development of EU law. The CJEU is based in Luxembourg and operates in all official EU languages, with translations to ensure accessibility across the Union.