Press and Information Division

PRESS RELEASE No 31/2000

13 April 2000

FIRST OFFICIAL VISIT OF THE EC COURT OF JUSTICE, THE JUDICIAL BODY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, TO THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES

The first official visit by the EC Court of Justice, the judicial body of the European Union, to the United States will take place from Saturday 15 April to Saturday 22 April. The delegation will be composed of the President of the Court of Justice, five Judges, three Advocates General and the Registrar.

During the visit, the delegation of the Court of Justice will meet with distinguished members of the United States judiciary. In particular, the delegation will participate in a number of working sessions concerning current European and US constitutional issues in New York, Washington and Texas (an itinerary with the subjects for discussion is attached).

This historic visit by the Court of Justice follows the official visit by a delegation of the Supreme Court of the United States to the Court of Justice in 1998. During this first official meeting of the Supreme Court and the Court of Justice, the delegation, which was composed of Justices O'Connor, Kennedy, Ginsburg and Breyer, had extended an invitation to the Court of Justice to visit the Supreme Court of the United States.

Background note to the EC Court of Justice

The Court of Justice of the European Communities was established in 1952. Based in Luxembourg, the Court is composed of 15 Judges and 8 Advocates General. The Court of Justice is the supreme judicial authority of the 15 Member States on matters governed by European Community law.

The Court adjudicates between the Member States and the European Union and determines the balance of power between the Commission, the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament.

It also gives rulings on questions of interpretation of European Community law raised by national courts in each of the Member States.

The judgments of the Court of Justice apply directly to citizens of the entire European Union, currently encompassing 375 million people.

For further information, please contact
Fionnuala Connolly, Press and Information Division, EC Court of Justice Luxembourg tel: 00 352 4303 33 55, fax: 00 352 4303 2731, e-mail: fionnuala.connolly@curia.eu.int
Mr Willy Hélin, European Commission Delegation in Washington tel: (202) 8629530, e-mail: willy.helin@cec.eu.int
Kathy Arberg, United States Supreme Court, tel: (202) 479 3050.

SCHEDULE