What changed

1. Grants the Registrar of the Court of Justice discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Court of Justice of the European Union for the financial year 2024 / Postpones its decision on granting the Registrar of the Court of Justice discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Court of Justice of the European Union for the financial year 2024;

1. Notes that the budget of the CJEU falls under MFF heading 7, ‘European public administration’, which amounted to EUR 13,3 billion in 2023 (representing 6,9 % of the total Union budget); notes that the CJEU’s budget of approximately EUR 0,5 billion represents approximately 3,76 % of the total administrative expenditure of the Union, which is a decrease from 3,9 % in 2023; highlights that, in cases relating to the investigation of the Union budget, the principles of due process and fundamental rights must be fully respected by all competent authorities.

5. Notes that personnel expenditure accounts for almost 80 % of the CJEU budget and that salary updates exceeded initial forecasts in 2024; stresses that, while these increases were absorbed without additional budgetary reinforcements, their recurrent nature raises questions as regards medium-term budgetary sustainability under current MFF constraints; calls for enhanced multiannual workforce and expenditure planning, without undermining judicial independence;

6.7. Agrees that that the ability of the CJEU to respond to an ever increasing workload has been challenged on the one hand by the Commission’s guidelines for the preparation of the budget that limit the increase for all non-salary related expenditure to a maximum of 2 % and discourage requests for new posts, and, on the other hand, EPSO’s failure to provide Union institutions with a reasonably sized pool of successful candidates from competitions from which to recruit; notes moreover that inflationary effects of the illegal Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine continued to create budgetary pressure for the CJEU through e.g. rising cost of missions or an increase in the prices of contracted goods and services; commends the CJEU for its measures mitigating such effects by reducing the number of missions, containing energy spending and, above all, applying a prioritisation of projects when preparing budget estimates; acknowledges the need of all Union institutions to improve their budget management by also taking into account price volatility, especially in the energy sector, when concluding contracts with service providers; calls on the CJEU to continue enhancing cost-efficiency and proactive budget planning to preserve judicial quality within the available resources;

9.10. Notes with appreciation from the CJEU replies to the questionnaire for the 2024 discharge the efforts made by the CJEU to complete the judicial reform for the partial transfer of jurisdiction to give preliminary rulings from the Court of Justice to the General Court and allow for the implementation of the new regulatory framework as of 1 October 2024; notes in this context the reorganisation of the structure of the General Court, the modification of CJEU’s rulesRules of procedureProcedure (RoP), the adoption of a new set of practice rules of the General Court for the implementation of the RoP, the adoption of a new decision on the lodging and service of procedural documents through e-Curia, the development of a new software (‘One-stop-shop’) for swift analysis and processing of casescases, greater efficiency and quality of judicial outcomes and the harmonisation of practices of the registries of the twoCourt courtsof Justice and the General Court in 2024; notes with appreciation that during the first three months after entry into force of the reform, 2019 preliminary rulings were already transferred to the General Court, thus marking the first results towards a more balanced distribution of the workload between the two courts; notes that the sole additional costs associated with implementing the judicial reform were IT-related ones, for the development of the One-stop-shop, amounting to approximately EUR 805 000, while in terms of staff the reform was kept budgetary neutral through redeployment of posts and duties within the institution; calls the CJEUto report on concrete impact of the judicial reform on efficiency, duration of proceedings and the workload distribution between the Court of Justice and the General Court, including the impact of digital tools on processing times and workload balance; calls the CJEUto present, for the next discharge procedure a comprehensive ex post evaluation of the reform;

10.11. Notes that, in 2024, the Court of Justice ruled on 12 cases concerning the principle of primacy of Union law, of which 10 cases of preliminary rulings and two cases of infringement; reiterates that the principle of primacy of Union law, which ensures the uniform interpretation and application of Union law across all Member States and safeguards the rule of law as a core value of the Union is fundamental; strongly reaffirms that the primacy of Union law is the cornerstone of the Union’s legal order and highlights the pivotal role of the CJEU in upholding the rule of law across the Union; notes that Article 4(2) of the Treaty on European Union provides that “The Union shall respect the equality of Member States before the Treaties as well as their national identities, inherent in their fundamental structures, political and constitutional, inclusive of regional and local self-government”;

12.13. Agrees with the CJEU that the Commission, as guardian of the treaties,Treatiess, should monitor Member States’ compliance with CJEU rulings, butrulings; reiteratereiterates its call on the CourtCJEU, strictly within the limits of its role, to set a mechanism to identify best and poor practices among Member States;

14. Notes that the average duration of proceedings for the cases closed by the Court of Justice was 17,7 months in 2024 compared to 16,1 months in 2023, whereas the respective increase by approximately six weeks was due to the complexity and voluminosity of some files (such as actions brought in 2020 against the Union’s so-called ‘mobility pack’ and closed in 2024); notes that the average duration for the cases closed by judgement or by order by the General Court increased from 18,2 months in 2023 to 18,5 months in 2024;

15. welcomes, at the same time, the reduction of the average time taken to dispose of cases under the urgent procedure before the Court of Justice, which fell from 4, 3 months in 2023 to 3, 3 months in 2024;

16. Notes that the average duration of proceedings for the cases closed by the Court of Justice was 17,7 months in 2024 compared to 16,1 months in 2023, whereas the respective increase by approximately six weeks was due to the complexity and voluminosity of some files (such as actions brought in 2020 against the Union’s so-called ‘mobility pack’ and closed in 2024); notes that the average duration for the cases closed by judgement or by order by the General Court increased from 18,2 months in 2023 to 18,5 months in 2024; stresses that the timeliness of judicial proceedings must remain a core performance objective, as excessive length directly affects legal certainty for citizens, national courts and economic operators;

17. Calls on the CJEU to explore, in cooperation with the national courts, practical guidance tools (such as guidelines, preliminary reference templates and online training sessions) to support clear and focused formulation of the questions submitted in preliminary rulings, thereby reducing the risk of unnecessary or excessively long proceedings;

16.19. Welcomes the performance-based approach developed by the CJEU, allowing the CJEU to take decisions based on the level of achievement of its objectives, measured through a set of workload and operational indicators (e.g. cost-efficiency, project completion rates, user satisfaction and resource optimisation) tailored to each department; notes that the key performance indicators used by the CJEU cover a wide range of specific areas in support of the five management objectives relating to the proper functioning of the two courts, digitalisation and emerging technologies, openness and transparency, multilingualism and human resources management; highlights the need for the CJEU to ensure that these indicators are transparent, outcome-oriented and regularly reviewed to support effective management and accountability;

17.20. Welcomes its approach revised in 2024 regarding the return on investment of innovation initiatives, by taking into account cost evaluation through parameters such as implementation and personnel efforts, annual maintenance, contractors cost and other types of costs, as well as evaluation of benefits through parameters such as projected gains, strategic advantages and number of users impacted; notes that in 2024, the CJEU also made a thorough revision of its system to follow project management and financial tracking of projects, with a view to ensuring a complete reporting and control over its time-based digitalisation consultancy services by 2025; invites the CJEU to keep the discharge authority updated on this matter;

20.23. Notes that the Court of Justice is composed of 27 Judges and 11 Advocates General and the General Court is composed of 54 Judges; notes further that nine new Judges at the Court of Justice and two new Judges at the General Court took office on account of partial replacement in 2024; regrets that gender composition of the Court of Justice and the General Court continues to be very unbalanced; expresses its appreciation of the letter from the President of the General Court to the President of the Conference of the Representatives of the Member States in 2024, calling on Member States to take the need for gender balance into account when nominating candidates for the replacement of Judges and Advocates General; renews its call on Member States to take the need for gender balance into account when nominating candidates for the replacement of Judges;Judges, while ensuring that nominations continue to be based on merit, qualification and independence criteria;

21.24. Notes that, in 2024, the staff of the CJEU was composed of 60,70 % women and 39,30 % men; notes that women representation was the highest in assistant grades (69,14 %), while regrettably it was the lowest in senior management positions (35,71 %); notes further an increase in the distribution of women in middle management positions from 43,33 % in 2023 to 51,61 % in 2024; notes with satisfaction from the management report of the authorising officer by delegation for 2024 an upward trend in the representation of women in management posts overall, from 37,50 % in 2018 to 48,70 % in 2024; stresses that the persistent under representation of women in senior management positions remains a concern and encourages the court to continue strengthening targeted measures aimed at supporting career progression and leadership pathways for women, in full respect of the principles of merit and transparency;

25. Welcomes the creation of an action plan on the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (the ‘Istanbul Convention’) which aligns actions, makes recommendations and organises informative and training actions for all staff in order to prevent harassment cases; takes notes of further actions announced, which include continuing the collaboration with national organisations working in the field of preventing violence against women, additional awareness-raising initiatives and training sessions that highlight, in particular, the impact of microaggressions and gender-based bias; regrets, in this regard, the lack of mandatory training for members of the CJEU, as stated in the CJEU’s replies to the questionnaire for the 2024 discharge; urges therefore the inclusion of all individuals, both staff and members of the CJEU, into obligatory training sessions in the field of preventing violence against women;

25.29. Commends the CJEU for its actions to address staff recruitment challenges and promote Luxembourg among young graduates as a place to work; notes with appreciation the CJEU’s contribution to the setting up and implementation of a housing allowance paid with retroactive effect from 1 January 2025 to staff at lower grades, the preparation of EPSO competitions specifically targeting staff to be employed in Luxembourg, as well as information sessions and summer schools; encourages intensified cooperation with EPSO and other institutions to broaden the pool of qualified candidates and strengthen competitive selection processes in specialised fields; notes from the follow-up report that the CJEU piloted on behalf of the High Level Interinstitutional Group a project/survey to establish whether it would be feasible to contract rental services for temporary housing (i.e. for a maximum period of one year), at market price (or below) that would be paid directly by staff members; further notes that survey was successful and consequently the working group has submitted a service level agreement to the participating institutions to mandate the CJEU to conduct a real estate negotiation procedure with entities that have submitted suitable projects; invites the CJEU to keep the discharge authority informed of the follow-up on this matter;

27.31. Notes that in 2024 there were 1917 burnout cases documented, of which eight new cases reported in 2024 and nine cases reported in 2023, whereas staff concerned received professional support and guidance; notes with appreciation that, in 2024, the CJEU remained a frontrunner on initiatives that promote physical and mental wellbeing of staff and address burnout and psychosocial risks, such as consultations with a social worker or a psychologist, lectures on mindfulness and digital balance, specialised workshops and awareness-raising activities on health issues, first aid training sessions and the recruitment of two part-time psychologists; acknowledges the success regarding the use of flexible working arrangements, including CJEU’s teleworking scheme, ultimately striving for a better staff work-life balance;

29.33. Notes that, as requested in previous discharge recommendations, the new code of conduct (CoC) for officials and other servants of the CJEU reflecting the latter’s values and commitment to high ethical standards was adopted in March 2024;2024 and notes that the CoC includes provisions on conflict of interests, duty of loyalty, duty of confidentiality and discretion, outside activities, occupational activities after leaving the service and publications, provisions against harassment and also applies to seconded national experts and trainee judges hosted under the EJTN; notes with satisfaction that the CJEU has put in place measures to present and explain the CoC as widely as possible and to make the staff fully comprehend the new rules and the broader legal framework they are part of, and that training on the CoC and the rights and obligations of staff are mandatory for newcomers and highly recommended to all CJEU staff, whereas a total of 747561 persons (i.e. 32,8024,75 % of the CJEU’s total number of officials and agents) participated in such trainings in 2024; further notes that similar training had been also offered to new CJEU members of the CJEU in 2024; notes with appreciation the CJEU’s network of ‘confidential counsellors’ who assist staff members in case of harassment, as well as the talent management programme offered to high-potential administrators that covers, inter alia,ethicalalia, ethical leadership; encourages the CJEU to progressively strengthen the provision of training on the CoCto all staff members without exception, to ensure a shared understanding of ethical standards across the institution;

37.41. Welcomes the CJEU’s engagement to enhance transparency, access to justice and public openness, thus contributing to foster public trust in the Union institutions, while balancing in other fundamental concerns such as judicial serenity, confidentiality of proceedings and protection of personal data; emphasises that increased transparency must also serve to strengthen public trust in the CJEU’s jurisprudence; encourages the CJEU to continue efforts to improve the clarity, accessibility and predictability of its case-law, particularly in cases with significant constitutional or societal impact; notes that, in 2024, the CJEU consolidated the streaming service for hearings of the Court of Justice and of the General Court on the Curia website, thus facilitating the access of citizens to the judicial activities of the CJEU; welcomes in this context, as a result of the judicial reform adopted in 2024, the increased transparency of the preliminary ruling procedure by allowing for the publication on the CJEU’s website of written observations within a reasonable time after the closure of the case;

38.42. Notes with satisfaction from the follow-up report that, following a successful pilot project launched in 2022 and the update of its RoP in 2024, the Court of Justice expanded the streaming service to include important cases heard by a Chamber of five Judges, as well as near-live-streaming of hearings of oral pleadings and live broadcasts of the delivery of judgments and of opinions of the Advocates General; notes further that since 1 September 2024 video recordings of hearings for the delivery of judgments and opinions remain permanently available on the CJEU’s website and video recordings of oral pleadings are accessible for one month after the hearing; notes with appreciation that the General Court has taken similar measures to ensure expanded access of the public to its proceedings;

43.47. Notes with interest the launch in 2024 of a pilot project providing all of the CJEU’s departments with access to AI assistants; underlines the importance of ensuring adherence to ethical principles when using AI tools and in particular to CJEU’s AI Guidelines adopted in 2024, thus ensuring human oversight in respect of the principle of independence of legal proceedings; underlines that the use of AI tools in a judicial environment must never replace human legal reasoning or judicial discretion, nor undermine the personal responsibility of judges; highlights in this context the supervisory role of CJEU’s AI Management Board; commends the CJEU for the comprehensive training programme it has put in place in 2024, starting with an “AI awareness month” that included training sessions, roundtables animated by AI experts, webinars and bootcamps, thus taking a first and important step towards creating awareness of staff members about the CJEU’s AI strategy, guidelines and AI in general; notes that staff members also follow courses on change management, knowledge transfer, mentoring, and mental agility to support adaptation to emerging technologies; invites the CJEU to continue organising such training and awareness programmes;

45.49. Notes that cybersecurity operational capabilities were further strengthened in 2024 to comply with Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2023/2841 and to address the rising number of cyberattacks; observes that no major cyberattacks occurred in 2024; notes with concern that an average of 142 security incidents per month were recorded and analysed, some requiring human intervention; emphasise that cybersecurity is a strategic investment, essential to safeguarding judicial independence, data integrity and the continuity of judicial activity, underling therefore the need for sustained and predictable investment in cybersecurity capabilities, staff training and interinstitutional cooperation;

52.56. Commends the CJEU for its rigorous approach to sustainable procurement, through the categorisation of calls for tenders based on the impact (‘light green’, ‘medium green’, ‘top green’) of their environmental clauses, the systematic use of tools such as the mandatory 'green performance' self-assessment and the consultation of the interinstitutional SPP Helpdesk; notes that in 2024, eleveneight major tenders above EUR 60 000 were ‘green purchases’, eightsix of which incorporated significant environmental clauses; welcomes in particular the successful implementation of the new catering contract, which requires sustainable food practices and holds the ISO 14001 certification, and the achievement of the objective to limit 'light green' tenders to well below the 50 % target;

62.64. Notes that, in 2024, the CJEU strengthened its efforts to engage with Union citizens by enhancing its outreach on social media; notes that, at the end of 2024, the number of subscribers to the CJEU’s LinkedIn account increased by 26 % and the number of followers on the CJEU’s two accounts on X (formerly Twitter) by 2,5 %,while the views on its YouTube channel increased by 236137 % and the number of its YouTube subscribers increased by more than 400329 % compared to the previous year; notes that the parabolic increase in views and subscribers was partly due to a promotional campaign organised by the CJEU;