Luxembourg · 75 years of the Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg

The Court of Justice of the European Union began its work in 1952. It was established within the framework of the European Coal and Steel Community, the first supranational European community. Its seat was established in Luxembourg. With the establishment of the European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community, further responsibilities were added; the Court thus became a common judicial authority of the European Communities.

Its task is to ensure the uniform interpretation and application of Union law. National courts may refer questions concerning the meaning of European provisions to it. In such preliminary ruling proceedings, the Court clarifies how Union law is to be interpreted so that it is applied according to the same principles in all Member States. It also decides, among other matters, on infringements of the Treaties by Member States and on actions against acts of the institutions of the European Union. In addition to the Court of Justice, the Court of the European Union is also part of the judicial system today.

The work of the Court of Justice is closely connected with the development of European integration. Through its case-law, principles of Union law have been elaborated, such as the primacy of Union law over conflicting national provisions and the possibility for individuals, under certain conditions, to rely directly on European provisions. Its work therefore affects not only the institutions of the Union, but also the legal systems and courts of the Member States.

Luxembourg has been an important location for common institutions since the beginnings of the European Communities. The Court of Justice also shapes the cityscape of the country through its institutional seat and the buildings of the European quarter on the Kirchberg. The coin’s subject therefore links the early emergence of the European legal community with its continuing activity in Luxembourg. The choice of the 75th anniversary refers to the continuity of an institution that has been responsible for the legal safeguarding of common rules since the founding phase of European unification.