European Court of Justice

The Court of Justice is the European Union’s highest court. It interprets EU law and ensures that it is applied uniformly across member states.

Preliminary ruling: A Court of Justice interpretation of EU law requested by a national court in a case before it. This procedure lets national judges seek authoritative EU-law interpretations while deciding domestic cases.
Court of Justice of the European Union: The EU’s judicial institution, comprising the Court of Justice and the General Court. The Court of Justice is one court within this broader EU judicial institution.
Court of Justice of the European Coal and Steel Community: The judicial body established by the 1951 Treaty of Paris to interpret and apply the European Coal and Steel Community treaty. It was the Court’s institutional predecessor.
Van Gend en Loos v Nederlandse Administratie der Belastingen: A 1963 Court of Justice judgment recognizing that certain European Community rules can create rights individuals may enforce nationally. The judgment introduced direct effect as a foundation of the Community legal order.
European Court of Human Rights: An international court that rules on alleged violations of the European Convention on Human Rights by states party to it. Unlike the EU Court, it belongs to the Council of Europe and applies a separate human-rights treaty.
Infringement procedure: A legal process through which the European Commission or a member state can challenge a member state’s failure to comply with EU law. It enables the Court to determine whether a member state has breached its EU obligations.
General Court (European Union): The EU court that primarily hears direct actions brought by individuals, companies, and member states. It shares the EU judicial institution with the Court of Justice and hears many first-instance cases.
Treaty of Paris (1951): The treaty that established the European Coal and Steel Community in 1952. It created the first European community court from which the EU judiciary developed.
Francovich v Italy: A 1991 Court of Justice judgment establishing member-state liability for certain harms caused by breaches of EU law. It extended the practical remedies available when a state fails to implement EU obligations.
European Court of Auditors: The EU institution that audits the Union’s finances and reports on the use of its budget. Despite its name, it is an auditor, not a court that interprets EU law.

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