The CJEU has recently submitted its proposed reform of the EU’s court system which, after its approval in principle by the Council of the European Union, is currently being examined by the European Parliament.
The CJEU has recently submitted its proposed reform of the EU’s court system which, after its approval in principle by the Council of the European Union, is currently being examined by the European Parliament. The proposal ‘aims to enhance the overall efficiency of the EU’s court system and to provide structural and sustainable solutions’. The number of cases before the General Court (which is the lower court) has increased from 398 cases in 2000, to 912 cases in 2014, and the CJEU expects this trend to continue. ‘It has not been possible for the General Court to moderate the rate of increase in the number of pending cases,’ the CJEU said. ‘It follows that in the present circumstances, the General Court is not able to cope, in a sustainable and efficient manner, with the number and increased complexity of cases that must be heard.
‘As a result of this growing structural imbalance, the length of time taken to process complex cases, such as economic cases, at the General Court has become particularly high [which] exposes the EU to an action for damages … In one year there have already been five actions for damages brought before the General Court in which the total amount of damages claimed has amounted to €26.8m.’ The CJEU proposes to increase the number of judges of the General Court from 27 to 56 over the next three years to remedy the situation and mitigate the EU’s liability to damages claims..
The CJEU has recently submitted its proposed reform of the EU’s court system which, after its approval in principle by the Council of the European Union, is currently being examined by the European Parliament.
The CJEU has recently submitted its proposed reform of the EU’s court system which, after its approval in principle by the Council of the European Union, is currently being examined by the European Parliament. The proposal ‘aims to enhance the overall efficiency of the EU’s court system and to provide structural and sustainable solutions’. The number of cases before the General Court (which is the lower court) has increased from 398 cases in 2000, to 912 cases in 2014, and the CJEU expects this trend to continue. ‘It has not been possible for the General Court to moderate the rate of increase in the number of pending cases,’ the CJEU said. ‘It follows that in the present circumstances, the General Court is not able to cope, in a sustainable and efficient manner, with the number and increased complexity of cases that must be heard.
‘As a result of this growing structural imbalance, the length of time taken to process complex cases, such as economic cases, at the General Court has become particularly high [which] exposes the EU to an action for damages … In one year there have already been five actions for damages brought before the General Court in which the total amount of damages claimed has amounted to €26.8m.’ The CJEU proposes to increase the number of judges of the General Court from 27 to 56 over the next three years to remedy the situation and mitigate the EU’s liability to damages claims..
