On 1 May 2004, ten new Member States joined the European Union: the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. This was the largest single enlargement in terms of both peoples and countries. Moreover, this accession brought to the common EU legal space a great variety of national histories, legal cultures and traditions. In view of the degree of integration that the EU had achieved by 2004, on the one hand, and the diversity that the ten new Member States represented, on the other hand, the importance of the moment cannot be overstated. It is fair to say that in itself the 2004 enlargement was a constitutional moment – a paradigm shift – that united Eastern and Western Europe into a common constitutional project. The European Union spread its values and principles to parts of Europe with particularly complex histories. While the ten new Member States entered the EU with a particular determination and hope for freedom, justice and prosperity, that determination would be tested by important challenges.

In 2022, the Court of Justice of the European Union celebrated its 70th anniversary. To mark the occasion, a number of events were held throughout the year, including the Meeting of Judges devoted to the theme of ‘Bringing justice closer to the citizen’, a formal sitting and the issuing of a commemorative stamp.

Farewell ceremonies for the British judges of the Court of Justice of the European Union, Ian Forrester (General Court) and Christopher Vajda (Court of Justice), were held on 6th and 12th February respectively.

On 13 May 2013, at the seat of the Court of Justice in Luxembourg, a day of reflection took place to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the judgment in Van Gend en Loos, delivered on 5 February 1963. During the day, the judgment was examined as a source of and a framework for the principles which have shaped the constitutional structure of the European Union and from the point of view of its potential for promoting the future development of European integration. The conference, which was organised by a committee chaired by President of Chamber A. Tizzano and composed of Advocate General J. Kokott and Judge S. Prechal, was addressed to all law professionals and the academic world of the European Union. The deliberations were conducted in French and English.

To mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the General Court of the European Union, a symposium was held on 25 September 2019 at the Court of Justice of the European Union.