Between 11th and 13th March 2018 the Court of Justice of the European Union (“EU”) hosted the Joint Meeting of the Court of Justice of the EU and the Network of Presidents of the Supreme Judicial Courts of the EU on its premises in Luxembourg. The delegation from the Slovak Republic led by its President, Ms. Daniela Švecová, has attended the meeting on the invitation of the President of the Court of Justice of the EU, Mr. Koen Lenaerts and the President of the Network of Presidents of the Supreme Judicial Courts of the EU, Mr. Pritt Pikamäe.
The working sessions took place on 12th March 2018. After the opening remarks by the President of the Court of Justice of the EU, Mr. Koen Lenaerts, Ms. Caroline Pellerin from the Court of Justice of the EU presented to the participants the first assessment of the Judicial Network of the EU. The Network is a project under the auspices of the Court of Justice of the EU, which should contribute to the deepening of cooperation between the Supreme and the Constitutional Courts of the Member States in order to strengthen mutual trust between these judicial authorities. It has been in operation since 1st January 2018 and takes the form of a website to which the Member Courts have access. What makes this project particularly unique is not only the arrangement of information on references for preliminary rulings, but also the creation of a National Decision Portal (gathering national decisions, which did not lead to initiation of the preliminary ruling procedure, but are of great importance in relation to the development of the EU law) and the provision to the Member Courts of the research notes prepared by the Research and Documentation Directorate of the Court of Justice of the EU.
Following the working session on the Judicial Network of the EU the meeting participants held a round table discussion on two topics: “The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union” and “References for a preliminary ruling”. The first round table topic was introduced by the Court of Justice general advocate, Mr. Yves Bot. He in particular analysed the judgment of the Court (Grand Chamber) of 5 April 2016 in joined cases C‑404/15 and C‑659/15 Aranyosi and Căldăraru and the Opinion 2/13 of the Court on the Accession of the EU to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. The President of the Supreme Court of Ireland, Mr. Frank Clarke, has introduced this topic on behalf of the Network of Presidents. The President of the first chamber of the Court of Justice, Ms. Silva de Lapuerta and the President of the Supreme Court of the Czech Republic, Mr. Pavel Šámal (on behalf of the Network of Presidents) have introduced the second round table discussion on references for preliminary rulings. The meeting participants have then been invited by Mr. Koen Lenaerts to attend the hearing before the Grand Chamber of the Court in joint cases C-626/15 European Commission/Council of the EU (MPA Antarctic) and C-659/16 European Commission/Council of the EU.
Communication Department