Question 1

What is the difference between the Court of Justice and the General Court?

Accepted Answer

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) is a two-tier system designed to manage a high volume of cases efficiently. The Court of Justice is the higher body that acts as a constitutional anchor, primarily handling "preliminary rulings" where it provides definitive interpretations of EU law for national judges. The General Court is a larger body with 54 judges that serves as the first point of contact for direct actions brought by individuals or companies, such as disputes over intellectual property, competition fines, or administrative decisions.

Question 2

How does the European Court of Auditors (ECA) ensure financial accountability?

Accepted Answer

The ECA acts as the "financial conscience" of the EU by auditing the budget to ensure funds are managed legally and effectively. While it does not have the power to prosecute, it produces an Annual Report that includes a Statement of Assurance on the reliability of accounts and the error rate of spending. This report is a critical component of the "Discharge Procedure," where the European Parliament decides whether to approve the European Commission's management of the budget based on the ECA's findings.

Question 3

What is the primary mandate of the European Central Bank (ECB)?

Accepted Answer

The ECB’s primary mandate is to maintain price stability within the euro area, which it defines as keeping inflation close to, but below, 2% over the medium term. To ensure it can pursue this goal without political interference, the ECB is granted a high degree of independence. However, when the ECB acts in its capacity as a banking supervisor through the Single Supervisory Mechanism, its decisions are subject to "Hard Look Review" by the General Court to ensure they are coherent and supported by hard evidence.

Question 4

Can an individual or business challenge an EU law directly?

Accepted Answer

Yes, through a procedure called an "Action for Annulment" under Article 263 of the TFEU. To do this, the person or company must demonstrate "standing," meaning the act must affect them personally and directly rather than being a general law that applies to everyone. There is a strict two-month deadline to file this challenge from the time the act is published or the party is notified. If an individual cannot afford the legal costs, the EU provides a Legal Aid system to ensure the courts remain accessible.

Question 5

What happens if an EU institution fails to act when it is legally required to?

Accepted Answer

If an institution has a legal obligation to make a decision or reply to a formal request and fails to do so, a party can file an "Action for Failure to Act" under Article 265 of the TFEU. Before heading to court in Luxembourg, the party must first formally call upon the institution to act. If the institution still does not respond within two months of that warning, the case can proceed to the General Court to force the bureaucracy to fulfill its duties.

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