The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 2004 to 2025 Europe
Judicial branch European Union, in 22 editions.
The entry for European Union published Judicial branch in 22 editions of 22, from 2004 to 2025. The text changed in 14 editions. Each is shown as published. Judicial branch in every entry.
- editions changed the text
- 14
- the first edition with it
- 2004
- the latest edition with it
- 2025
Published as “Judicial branch” (2004 to 2025).
field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe edition shownChoose an edition on the strip beside the text, or step through them with the arrows. Mark changes compares it with the edition before: the marks are ours, words added and words removed.
2025 edition
Changed since 2024- European Court of Justice (ensures that the treaties are interpreted and applied correctly) - 25 Justices (one from each member state) appointed for a six-year term;
- note - for the sake of efficiency, the court can sit with 11 justices known as the "Grand Chamber";
- Court of First Instance - 25 justices appointed for a six-year term
European Court of Justice (ensures that the treaties are interpreted and applied correctly) - 25 Justices (one from each member state) appointed for a six-year term; note - for the sake of efficiency, the court can sit with 11 justices known as the "Grand Chamber"; Court of First Instance - 25 justices appointed for a six-year term
The same text in 2005 and 2006.
- Court of Justice of the European Communities (ensures that the treaties are interpreted and applied correctly) - 25 justices (one from each member state) appointed for a six-year term;
- note - for the sake of efficiency, the court can sit with 11 justices known as the "Grand Chamber";
- Court of First Instance - 25 justices appointed for a six-year term
European Court of Justice of the European Communities (ensures that the treaties are interpreted and applied correctly) - 25 Justices justices (one from each member state) appointed for a six-year term; note - for the sake of efficiency, the court can sit with 11 justices known as the "Grand Chamber"; Court of First Instance - 25 justices appointed for a six-year term
The same text in 4 editions, 2007 to 2010.
- Court of Justice of the European Communities (ensures that the treaties are interpreted and applied uniformly throughout the EU; resolve constitutional issues among the EU institutions) - 27 justices (one from each member state) appointed for a six-year term;
- note - for the sake of efficiency, the court can sit with 13 justices known as the "Grand Chamber";
- Court of First Instance - 27 justices appointed for a six-year term
Court of Justice of the European Communities (ensures that the treaties are interpreted and applied correctly) uniformly throughout the EU; resolve constitutional issues among the EU institutions) - 25 27 justices (one from each member state) appointed for a six-year term; note - for the sake of efficiency, the court can sit with 11 13 justices known as the "Grand Chamber"; Court of First Instance - 25 27 justices appointed for a six-year term
The same text in 2011 and 2012.
- Court of Justice of the European Union (ensures that the treaties are interpreted and applied uniformly throughout the EU, resolves disputed issues among the EU institutions, issues opinions on questions of EU law referred by member state courts) - 27 judges (one from each member state) appointed for a six-year term;
- note - the court can sit in chambers, in a "Grand Chamber" of 13 judges, or as the full court;
- General Court (a court below the Court of Justice) - 27 judges appointed for a six-year term;
- Civil Service Tribunal - 7 judges appointed for a three-year term
Court of Justice of the European Communities Union (ensures that the treaties are interpreted and applied uniformly throughout the EU; resolve constitutional EU, resolves disputed issues among the EU institutions) institutions, issues opinions on questions of EU law referred by member state courts) - 27 justices judges (one from each member state) appointed for a six-year term; note - for the sake of efficiency, the court can sit with in chambers, in a "Grand Chamber" of 13 justices known judges, or as the "Grand Chamber"; full court; General Court (a court below the Court of First Instance Justice) - 27 justices judges appointed for a six-year term; Civil Service Tribunal - 7 judges appointed for a three-year term
- highest court(s):
Court of Justice of the European Union (organized into Court of Justice, General Court, and Civil Service Tribunal; consists of 27 judges, one from each of the member states)
note - the Court of Justice ensures that treaties are interpreted and applied uniformly throughout the EU, resolves disputed issues among the EU institutions, issues opinions on questions of EU law referred by member state courts;
- judge selection and term of office:
- judges appointed for 6-year terms;
- note - the court can sit in chambers, in a "Grand Chamber" of 13 judges, or as the full court;
- General Court (a court below the Court of Justice) - 27 judges appointed for six-year terms;
- Civil Service Tribunal - 7 judges appointed for 3-year terms
- subordinate courts:
highest court(s):
Court of Justice of the European Union (ensures that (organized into Court of Justice, General Court, and Civil Service Tribunal; consists of 27 judges, one from each of the member states)
note - the Court of Justice ensures that treaties are interpreted and applied uniformly throughout the EU, resolves disputed issues among the EU institutions, issues opinions on questions of EU law referred by member state courts) - 27 courts;
judge selection and term of office:
judges (one from each member state) appointed for a six-year term; 6-year terms; note - the court can sit in chambers, in a "Grand Chamber" of 13 judges, or as the full court; General Court (a court below the Court of Justice) - 27 judges appointed for a six-year term; terms; Civil Service Tribunal - 7 judges appointed for a three-year term 3-year terms
subordinate courts:
- highest court(s):
Court of Justice of the European Union (organized into Court of Justice, General Court, and Civil Service Tribunal; consists of 28 judges, one from each of the member states)
note - the Court of Justice ensures that treaties are interpreted and applied uniformly throughout the EU, resolves disputed issues among the EU institutions, issues opinions on questions of EU law referred by member state courts;
- judge selection and term of office:
- judges appointed for 6-year terms;
- note - the court may sit as a full court, in a "Grand Chamber" of 15 judges, or in chambers of 3 or 5 judges;
- General Court (a court below the Court of Justice) - 28 judges appointed for 6-year terms;
- Civil Service Tribunal - 7 judges appointed for 6-year terms
- subordinate courts:
highest court(s):
Court of Justice of the European Union (organized into Court of Justice, General Court, and Civil Service Tribunal; consists of 27 28 judges, one from each of the member states)
note - the Court of Justice ensures that treaties are interpreted and applied uniformly throughout the EU, resolves disputed issues among the EU institutions, issues opinions on questions of EU law referred by member state courts;
judge selection and term of office:
judges appointed for 6-year terms; note - the court can may sit in chambers, as a full court, in a "Grand Chamber" of 13 15 judges, or as the full court; in chambers of 3 or 5 judges; General Court (a court below the Court of Justice) - 27 28 judges appointed for six-year 6-year terms; Civil Service Tribunal - 7 judges appointed for 3-year 6-year terms
subordinate courts:
note: the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ensures that EU law is interpreted and applied uniformly throughout the EU, resolves disputed isssues among the EU institutions and with member states, issues opinions on questions of EU law referred by member state courts
- highest court(s):
- ECJ (consists of 28 judges - 1 from each member state);
- the court may sit as a full court, in a "Grand Chamber" of 13 judges in special cases but usually in chambers of 3 to 5 judges
- judge selection and term of office:
- judges appointed by the common consent of the member states to serve 6-year renewable terms
- subordinate courts:
- General Court; Civil Service Tribunal
highest court(s): note: the European
Court of Justice ofUnion (organized into Court of Justice, General Court, and Civil Service Tribunal; consists of 28 judges, one from each of the member states) Justice (ECJ) ensures that
note - the Court oftreaties are EU law is interpreted and applied uniformly throughout the EU, resolves disputed issues isssues among the EU institutions, institutions and with member states, issues opinions on questions of EU law referred by member state courts; courtsjudge selection and term highest court(s): ECJ (consists of office:28 judges appointed for 6-year terms; note - 1 from each member state); the court may sit as a full court, in a "Grand Chamber" of 15 judges, or 13 judges in special cases but usually in chambers of 3 or to 5 judges; General Court (a court below the Court of Justice) - 28 judges appointed for 6-year terms; Civil Service Tribunal - 7
judge selection and term of office: judges appointed for by the common consent of the member states to serve 6-year renewable terms
subordinate courts: General Court; Civil Service Tribunal
note: the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ensures that EU law is interpreted and applied uniformly throughout the EU, resolves disputed issues among the EU institutions and with member states, issues opinions on questions of EU law referred by member state courts
- highest court(s):
- European Court of Justice (consists of 28 judges - 1 from each member state);
- the court may sit as a full court, in a "Grand Chamber" of 13 judges in special cases, but usually in chambers of 3 to 5 judges
- judge selection and term of office:
- judges appointed by the common consent of the member states to serve 6-year renewable terms
- subordinate courts:
- General Court; Civil Service Tribunal
note: the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ensures that EU law is interpreted and applied uniformly throughout the EU, resolves disputed isssues issues among the EU institutions and with member states, issues opinions on questions of EU law referred by member state courts
highest court(s): ECJ European Court of Justice (consists of 28 judges - 1 from each member state); the court may sit as a full court, in a "Grand Chamber" of 13 judges in special cases cases, but usually in chambers of 3 to 5 judges
judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the common consent of the member states to serve 6-year renewable terms
subordinate courts: General Court; Civil Service Tribunal
- highest court(s):
- European Court of Justice or ECJ (consists of 28 judges - 1 from each member state);
- the court may sit as a full court, in a "Grand Chamber" of 13 judges in special cases but usually in chambers of 3 to 5 judges
note: the ECJ is the supreme judicial authority of the EU; ECJ ensures that EU law is interpreted and applied uniformly throughout the EU, resolves disputed issues among the EU institutions and with member states, issues opinions on questions of EU law referred by member state courts
- judge selection and term of office:
- judges appointed by the common consent of the member states to serve 6-year renewable terms
- subordinate courts:
- General Court; Civil Service Tribunal
note: the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ensures that EU law is interpreted and applied uniformly throughout the EU, resolves disputed issues among the EU institutions and with member states, issues opinions on questions of EU law referred by member state courtshighest court(s): European Court of Justice or ECJ (consists of 28 judges - 1 from each member state); the court may sit as a full court, in a "Grand Chamber" of 13 judges in special cases, cases but usually in chambers of 3 to 5 judges
note: the ECJ is the supreme judicial authority of the EU; ECJ ensures that EU law is interpreted and applied uniformly throughout the EU, resolves disputed issues among the EU institutions and with member states, issues opinions on questions of EU law referred by member state courts
judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the common consent of the member states to serve 6-year renewable terms
subordinate courts: General Court; Civil Service Tribunal
- highest courts:
- European Court of Justice or ECJ (consists of 28 judges - 1 from each member state);
- the court may sit as a full court or in a "Grand Chamber" of 13 judges in special cases but usually in chambers of 3 to 5 judges
- judge selection and term of office:
- judges appointed by the common consent of the member states to serve 6-year renewable terms
- subordinate courts:
- General Court; Civil Service Tribunal
note: the ECJ is the supreme judicial authority of the EU; it ensures that EU law is interpreted and applied uniformly throughout the EU, resolves disputed issues among the EU institutions and with member states, and issues opinions on questions of EU law referred by member state courts
highest court(s): courts: European Court of Justice or ECJ (consists of 28 judges - 1 from each member state); the court may sit as a full court, court or in a "Grand Chamber" of 13 judges in special cases but usually in chambers of 3 to 5 judges
judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the common consent of the member states to serve 6-year renewable terms
subordinate courts: General Court; Civil Service Tribunal
note: the ECJ is the supreme judicial authority of the EU; ECJ it ensures that EU law is interpreted and applied uniformly throughout the EU, resolves disputed issues among the EU institutions and with member states, and issues opinions on questions of EU law referred by member state courts
judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the common consent of the member states to serve 6-year renewable terms
subordinate courts: General Court; Civil Service Tribunal
- highest courts:
- Court of Justice of the European Union, which includes the Court of Justice (informally known as the European Court of Justice or ECJ) and the General Court (consists of 28 judges, one drawn from each member state; the ECJ includes 11 Advocates General while the General Court can include additional judges; both the ECJ and the General Court may sit in a "Grand Chamber" of 15 judges in special cases but usually in chambers of 3 to 5 judges
- judge selection and term of office:
- judges appointed by the common consent of the member states to serve 6-year renewable terms
note: the ECJ is the supreme judicial authority of the EU; it ensures that EU law is interpreted and applied uniformly throughout the EU, resolves disputed issues among the EU institutions and with member states, and reviews issues and opinions regarding questions of EU law referred by member state courts
highest courts: Court of Justice of the European Union, which includes the Court of Justice (informally known as the European Court of Justice or ECJ ECJ) and the General Court (consists of 28 judges - 1 judges, one drawn from each member state); state; the court ECJ includes 11 Advocates General while the General Court can include additional judges; both the ECJ and the General Court may sit as a full court or in a "Grand Chamber" of 13 15 judges in special cases but usually in chambers of 3 to 5 judges
judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the common consent of the member states to serve 6-year renewable termssubordinate courts: General Court; Civil Service Tribunalnote: the ECJ is the supreme judicial authority of the EU; it ensures that EU law is interpreted and applied uniformly throughout the EU, resolves disputed issues among the EU institutions and with member states, and reviews issues and opinions on regarding questions of EU law referred by member state courts
The same text in 2020 and 2021.
- highest courts:
- Court of Justice of the European Union, which includes the Court of Justice (informally known as the European Court of Justice or ECJ) and the General Court (consists of 27 judges, one drawn from each member state; the ECJ includes 11 Advocates General while the General Court can include additional judges; both the ECJ and the General Court may sit in a "Grand Chamber" of 15 judges in special cases but usually in chambers of 3 to 5 judges
- judge selection and term of office:
- judges appointed by the common consent of the member states to serve 6-year renewable terms
note: the ECJ is the supreme judicial authority of the EU; it ensures that EU law is interpreted and applied uniformly throughout the EU, resolves disputed issues among the EU institutions and with member states, and reviews issues and opinions regarding questions of EU law referred by member state courts
highest courts: Court of Justice of the European Union, which includes the Court of Justice (informally known as the European Court of Justice or ECJ) and the General Court (consists of 28 27 judges, one drawn from each member state; the ECJ includes 11 Advocates General while the General Court can include additional judges; both the ECJ and the General Court may sit in a "Grand Chamber" of 15 judges in special cases but usually in chambers of 3 to 5 judges
judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the common consent of the member states to serve 6-year renewable terms
note: the ECJ is the supreme judicial authority of the EU; it ensures that EU law is interpreted and applied uniformly throughout the EU, resolves disputed issues among the EU institutions and with member states, and reviews issues and opinions regarding questions of EU law referred by member state courts
- highest court(s):
- Court of Justice of the European Union, which includes the Court of Justice (informally known as the European Court of Justice or ECJ) and the General Court (consists of 27 judges, one drawn from each member state; the ECJ includes 11 Advocates General while the General Court can include additional judges; both the ECJ and the General Court may sit in a "Grand Chamber" of 15 judges in special cases but usually in chambers of 3 to 5 judges
- judge selection and term of office:
- judges appointed by the common consent of the member states to serve 6-year renewable terms
note: the ECJ is the supreme judicial authority of the EU; it ensures that EU law is interpreted and applied uniformly throughout the EU, resolves disputed issues among the EU institutions and with member states, and reviews issues and opinions regarding questions of EU law referred by member state courts
highest courts: court(s): Court of Justice of the European Union, which includes the Court of Justice (informally known as the European Court of Justice or ECJ) and the General Court (consists of 27 judges, one drawn from each member state; the ECJ includes 11 Advocates General while the General Court can include additional judges; both the ECJ and the General Court may sit in a "Grand Chamber" of 15 judges in special cases but usually in chambers of 3 to 5 judges
judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the common consent of the member states to serve 6-year renewable terms
note: the ECJ is the supreme judicial authority of the EU; it ensures that EU law is interpreted and applied uniformly throughout the EU, resolves disputed issues among the EU institutions and with member states, and reviews issues and opinions regarding questions of EU law referred by member state courts
The same text in 2023 and 2024.
- highest court(s):
- Court of Justice of the European Union, which includes the Court of Justice (informally known as the European Court of Justice or ECJ) and the General Court (consists of 27 judges, one drawn from each member state);
- the ECJ includes 11 Advocates General while the General Court can include additional judges;
- both the ECJ and the General Court may sit in a "Grand Chamber" of 15 judges in special cases but usually in chambers of 3 to 5 judges
- judge selection and term of office:
- judges appointed by the common consent of the member states to serve 6-year renewable terms
note: the ECJ is the supreme judicial authority of the EU; it ensures that EU law is interpreted and applied uniformly throughout the EU, resolves disputes among EU institutions and member states, and reviews issues and opinions regarding questions of EU law referred by member state courts
highest court(s): Court of Justice of the European Union, which includes the Court of Justice (informally known as the European Court of Justice or ECJ) and the General Court (consists of 27 judges, one drawn from each member state; state); the ECJ includes 11 Advocates General while the General Court can include additional judges; both the ECJ and the General Court may sit in a "Grand Chamber" of 15 judges in special cases but usually in chambers of 3 to 5 judges
judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the common consent of the member states to serve 6-year renewable terms
note: the ECJ is the supreme judicial authority of the EU; it ensures that EU law is interpreted and applied uniformly throughout the EU, resolves disputed issues disputes among the EU institutions and with member states, and reviews issues and opinions regarding questions of EU law referred by member state courts
- highest court(s):
- Court of Justice of the European Union, which includes the Court of Justice (informally known as the European Court of Justice or ECJ, includes 11 advocates general) and the General Court (consists of 27 judges, one drawn from each member state; can include additional judges);
- both the ECJ and the General Court sit in chambers of 3 to 5 judges but may sit in a Grand Chamber of 15 judges in special cases
- judge selection and term of office:
- judges appointed by the common consent of the member states to serve 6-year renewable terms
highest court(s): Court of Justice of the European Union, which includes the Court of Justice (informally known as the European Court of Justice or ECJ) ECJ, includes 11 advocates general) and the General Court (consists of 27 judges, one drawn from each member state); the ECJ includes 11 Advocates General while the General Court state; can include additional judges; judges); both the ECJ and the General Court sit in chambers of 3 to 5 judges but may sit in a "Grand Chamber" Grand Chamber of 15 judges in special cases but usually in chambers of 3 to 5 judges
judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the common consent of the member states to serve 6-year renewable terms
note: the ECJ is the supreme judicial authority of the EU; it ensures that EU law is interpreted and applied uniformly throughout the EU, resolves disputes among EU institutions and member states, and reviews issues and opinions regarding questions of EU law referred by member state courts
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Cite this page
Central Intelligence Agency. “European Union: Judicial branch.” The World Factbook, 2004–2025 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/european-union/judicial-branch.