Ćapeta, Tamara --- "EU judiciary in need of reform?" [2016] ELECD 1068; in Lazowski, Adam; Blockmans, Steven (eds), "Research Handbook on EU Institutional Law" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2016) 263

Book Title: Research Handbook on EU Institutional Law

Editor(s): Lazowski, Adam; Blockmans, Steven

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781782544739

Section: Chapter 9

Section Title: EU judiciary in need of reform?

Author(s): Ćapeta, Tamara

Number of pages: 26

Abstract/Description:

This contribution questions whether the EU judicial architecture should be redesigned. The main reason for raising the question is the perception that the Court’s authority has started to erode. A principal cause for this seems to be the inadequate reasoning of the Court’s decisions. Predominantly on its own initiative, the Court of Justice (hereinafter: the Court, CoJ) has established itself as an important player among EU institutions. Within the legal system, which has evolved largely under the Court’s direction, it is perceived as a political actor. The ‘political’ role of the Court could arguably be understood as its participation in shaping policy preferences in different areas of EU powers. This does not necessarily happen due to the Court’s efforts or even willingness to be a political actor. Quite the contrary, it is argued that despite the Court’s unwillingness to assume such a role, this has become inevitable in the complex organisation that is the EU. Clarifying the meaning, the reach or the scope of a legal rule is almost never a mechanical process. A contrario, it most often requires the Court to make a choice between two, or sometimes even more, possible meanings of the same legal rule. The outcome of the choice will have redistributive effects – one group in society will be better off, whereas the other will be worse off due to the choice made.