The European Union And Regional Organizations

The European Union is an international and regional organization in the United Kingdom that unites a variety of countries within the region. Such countries get to carry out similar activities and they are governed by the same rules and procedures. Both international and Regional organizations are imperative since they assist countries in formulating laws and policies that aim at boosting the region’s productivity. The European Union (EU) is among the most successful international organizations across the globe. This paper will aim at discussing the different courts that govern the judicial system in the EU namely; the European Court of Justice and the General Court. Further, it will outline the functions, personnel and procedures that govern the above courts within the European Union.

A brief history of the development of the EU

The origin of the EU traces back to the 1951 Treaty of Paris that was signed to form the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) by Belgium, France, Italy, West Germany, Luxembourg and Netherlands. In 1957, these six members also signed the Treaty creating the European Economic Community (EEC). Later, in 1967, EEC changed to European Community (EC) and in 1973 Denmark, Ireland and United Kingdom joined the EC. Greece joined in 1981 while Portugal and Spain in 1986. Later, The Treaty of Maastricht was signed in 1992 and created the current EU. The EU has a variety of organs that govern its daily operations these include; the European Commission, European Council, European Parliament, Council of EU, Court of Justice of EU (CJEU), European Court of Auditors and European Central Bank.

Different organs under the EU carry out diverse responsibilities. The European Parliament is under a mandate to share the...

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...ement either supporting or opposing the claims of either of the parties who then have a right to respond. The intervener also has the right to submit its observations during the oral stage whereby a public hearing is carried out. Once the lawyers from both parties are heard, judges have the discretion to ask the parties’ representatives questions.

The court has a Judge-Rapporteur who summarizes a report for the hearing, facts relied on and the arguments presented by each party and also those of interveners when necessary. The document is done in the sole language of the case. The above report is relied upon by the judges to draft a judgement which is then delivered publicly. The above procedure is free of court fees since only lawyers are entitled to pay by the persons they are representing. Failure to manage to meet the costs may warrant an individual to legal aid.