European Civil Service Tribunal: judicial panel to the Court of First Instance

PURPOSE : to establish a European civil service tribunal specialising in civil service disputes with a view to remedying the growing delays in the Community courts.

LEGISLATIVE ACT : Council Decision 2004/752/EC establishing the European Union Civil Service Tribunal.

CONTENT : this Decision provides that a judicial panel will be attached to the Court of First Instance to hear disputes involving the European Union civil service. It will be known as the "European Union Civil Service Tribunal", and it will have its headquarters at the Court of First Instance.

The Decision was made on the basis that the establishment of a specific judicial panel to exercise jurisdiction at first instance in European civil service disputes, currently within the jurisdiction of the Court of First Instance of the European Communities, would improve the operation of the Community courts system. It answers the call made in Declaration No 16 relating to Article 225a of the EC Treaty adopted when the Treaty of Nice was signed on 26 February 2001.

ENTRY INTO FORCE : 10/11/2004, with the exception of Article 1 of Annex I to the Statute of the Court of Justice, as set out in the Annex to this Decision.