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OPINION (2024/2022(DEC))

On discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2023, Section IV – Court of Justice of the European Union

JURI-AD-765287

Committee on Legal Affairs · Rapporteur: Ilhan Kyuchyuk

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The Committee on Legal Affairs opinion on the 2023 budget discharge for the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) welcomes its high budget implementation and judicial performance, and supports reforms to improve efficiency and transparency. It notes case numbers, processing times, and the use of e-Curia, and highlights progress in digitisation, AI, cybersecurity, and gender balance, while urging more gender parity among judges.

Committee position. The Committee on Legal Affairs calls on the Committee on Budgetary Control to incorporate its suggestions into the motion for a resolution, which include welcoming the CJEU's performance and reforms.

Key points

  1. Appreciates the CJEU's very high budgetary implementation rate for 2023 (99.2%), up from 98.4% in 2022 and 98.7% in 2021.
  2. Stresses that the CJEU budget is essentially administrative, with about 75% for staff and most of the rest for buildings and IT.
  3. Welcomes the amendment to Protocol No 3 on the Statute of the CJEU, transferring some preliminary ruling jurisdiction to the General Court and extending the appeals filter, to preserve timely high-quality judgments and strengthen access to justice.
  4. Notes that in 2023, 821 new cases were registered at the Court of Justice, with preliminary rulings and appeals over 90% of cases; direct actions increased.
  5. Welcomes the decrease in average length of proceedings before the Court of Justice to 16.1 months in 2023, but notes an increase before the General Court to 18.2 months due to complex cases.
  6. Notes that cases brought before the two courts exceeded 2,000 for the first time (2,092), and even excluding 404 identical cases, the number remains high at 1,689.
  7. Notes the high use of e-Curia: 94% of lodgements before the General Court and about 89% before the Court of Justice in 2023.
  8. Notes increases in direct actions before the Court of Justice (especially environment) and in cases before the General Court in intellectual property and economic and monetary policy.
  9. Welcomes the CJEU's AI strategy, measures to protect against cyber threats, and the initiative to assign fictitious names to anonymised cases.
  10. Welcomes the amendment to the General Court's Rules of Procedure, the code of conduct for staff, and the project on accessibility for persons with disabilities.
  11. Notes that of 2,303 officials and agents, 61% are women; in managerial posts, the proportion increased to 43% in 2023 from 40% in 2022 and 2021.
  12. Exhorts the Council to promote gender parity in the appointment of judges, noting the still imbalanced situation among judges of both courts.

Who is affected

  • The Court of Justice and the General Court, whose budget and operations are assessed and whose reforms are welcomed.
  • National courts and judges, who benefit from cooperation and training networks supported by the opinion.
  • The Council, which is urged to consider gender parity when appointing judges.
  • Persons with disabilities, who stand to benefit from the CJEU's accessibility project.

Figures and deadlines

  • 99.2% budgetary implementation rate for 2023, compared to 98.4% in 2022 and 98.7% in 2021.
  • About 75% of appropriations related to staff expenditure.
  • 821 new cases registered in 2023, 15 more than in 2022 (806) and 17 fewer than in 2021 (838).
  • Average length of proceedings: 16.1 months at the Court of Justice (down from 16.4) and 18.2 months at the General Court (up from 16.2).
  • 2,092 cases brought before the two courts in 2023, including 404 essentially identical cases; 1,689 if counted as one.
  • 1,687 cases completed in 2023, compared to 1,666 in 2022; 2,587 pending at end of 2023.
  • 10,502 e-Curia accounts; 94% of lodgements before the General Court and about 89% before the Court of Justice used e-Curia.
  • Of 2,303 officials and agents, 61% are women; in managerial posts, 43% in 2023, up from 40% in 2022 and 2021.