EU judicial system

This subtopic contains a range of resources on the EU judicial system and the interpretation and enforcement of EU law.

The European Commission’s role as 'Guardian of the Treaties' is to control the correct application of EU law across EU Member States, while upholding the interests of the EU. The Court of Justice of the European Union interprets EU law in the cases submitted by the Commission and national courts.

Cases heard by the Court of Justice of the European Union include:

1. •

   preliminary ruling requests from national courts on the interpretation of a point of EU law

2. •

   proceedings against a Member State’s government for failing to fulfil an obligation under EU law

3. •

   proceedings by an affected Member State or individual party (or the Council, Parliament or Commission) to annul EU law

4. •

   proceedings by a Member State against an EU institution for failing to act

5. •

   direct actions by EU citizens, companies or organisations, which have suffered damage as a result of the action or inaction of the EU

State liability in EU law derives from the fact that EU Member States are