The Court of Justice of the European Communities, usually called the European Court of Justice (ECJ), is the highest court in the European Union. It has the ultimate say on matters of EU law in order to ensure equal application across the various European Union member states.

The body was established in 1952 under the treaty of Paris and is based in Luxembourg City. Its job is to ensure that the EU laws are the same n all member states of the EU. The court has the power to settle legal disputes between member states, EU institutions, business and individuals. The court is composed of one judge per member state, so that all the EU’s national legal systems are represented, although only 13 of them hear a case at any one time in the "Grand Chamber”. The court is led by a president, since 2003 this has been Vassilios Skouris.

The court is assisted by a lower court, the Court of First Instance, dealing with certain issues. Two other courts deal with other responsibilities, the Civil Service Tribunal over employees of the Union's institutions and Court of Auditors over the Union's accounts. It should not be confused with the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, which is part of the Council of Europe.

Exercise

Read the text. See if the sentences under it are true or false.

The Court of Justice

The Court of Justice of the European Communities, usually called the European Court of Justice (ECJ), is the highest court in the European Union. It has the ultimate say on matters of EU law in order to ensure equal application across the various European Union member states.

The body was established in 1952 under the treaty of Paris and is based in Luxembourg City. Its job is to ensure that the EU laws are the same in all member states of the EU. The court has the power to settle legal disputes between member states, EU institutions, business and individuals. The court is composed of one judge per member state, so that all the EU’s national legal systems are represented, although only 13 of them hear a case at any one time in the "Grand Chamber”. The court is led by a president, since 2003 this has been Vassilios Skouris.

The court is assisted by a lower court, the Court of First Instance, dealing with certain issues. Two other courts deal with other responsibilities, the Civil Service Tribunal over employees of the Union's institutions and Court of Auditors over the Union's accounts. It should not be confused with the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, which is part of the Council of Europe.

True or False

1. The Court of Justice of the European Communities is usually called ECJ.

2. The body was established in 1952 under the treaty of Luxembourg.

 3. Its job is to assert that the EU laws are the same in all member states of the EU.

4. The court has the power to settle disputes between all states of the world, institutions, business and individuals.

5. The court is composed of one judge per member state, so that all the EU’s national legal systems are represented, and all of them hear a case at any one time in the "Grand Chamber”.

6. The court is assisted by a lower court, the Court of First Instance.

7. The Civil Service Tribunal is part of the Council of Europe.

Key: 1T, 2F, 3F, 4F, 5F, 6T, 7F