The EU Court Of Justice In The Process of European Construction and Integration

Abstract

The paper is dedicated to examining the historical evolution and contemporary significance of the role and place of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in the broader framework of European integration. In this context, the author thoroughly investigates the dynamic relationship between the progressive development of primary European Union law—beginning with the foundational Treaty of Paris in 1951—and the current legal landscape, shaped by the Treaty of Lisbon of 2007. The study systematically analyzes the relevant provisions of the founding treaties at each key stage of European integration, highlighting how these texts have both reflected and facilitated deeper levels of legal and institutional integration within the European Union. In addition, it explores the transformative impact of the CJEU’s jurisprudence in interpreting, clarifying, and expanding the scope of these treaty provisions. The paper pays particular attention to the interplay between the evolution of primary law and the jurisprudential activity of the CJEU, tracing how landmark decisions and key interpretative principles have reinforced the Union’s legal order and shaped its progressive development. These legal and doctrinal shifts are analyzed in light of their implications for the continued expansion and consolidation of the European legal space. Furthermore, the author identifies the key implications of these historical and contemporary developments for the future role of the CJEU, especially in the context of new and emerging challenges confronting the European Union. The paper argues that the Court’s evolving role will remain essential in navigating complex legal, political, and institutional questions arising from ongoing integration efforts, while also balancing the fundamental principles of the EU legal order with the demands of effective governance and the protection of fundamental rights. In conclusion, the paper situates the CJEU’s role as a central actor in the European integration process, emphasizing its ongoing contribution to shaping the Union’s legal landscape and responding to contemporary and prospective challenges.