COURT OF JUSTICE: NUMBER OF CASES HANDLED LEVELS OUT IN 2001.

The Court of Justice wrapped up 398 cases last year. Of these, 244 resulted in a judgement, one concerned an Opinion delivered under Article 300, paragraph 6 of the EC Treaty (conclusion of international agreements) and 153 cases gave rise to an order by the Court. Although these figures represent a certain reduction on the previous year (when 463 cases were brought to a close), they are slightly higher than the average for 1997-1999 (around 375 cases closed). The number of new cases brought before the Court remained constant (504 in 2001 and 503 in 2000). As a result, the number of cases pending rose from 839 (net figure, taking account of cases which were combined), compared with 803 in 2000. The duration of proceedings remained constant in the case of preliminary rulings and direct appeals (around 22 and 23 months respectively). The average duration of appeals, however, fell from 19 months in 2000 to 16 months in 2001. With regard to the distribution of cases between the courts, the Court dealt with one in five cases in full sitting (compared to one in four in 2000), whilst the other judgements and orders were given by chambers of five judges (60% of cases) and three judges (almost one in four cases).Simplified and "fast track" proceedings.The ECJ made use of some of the new instruments of procedure which were introduced into its Rules of Procedure with the backing of the Council (see European Report 2488 for further details). The Court has frequently taken advantage of its greater opportunity to give preliminary rulings by means of a simplified procedure. The Court can employ the simplified procedure in three situations: when the question raised is identical to a question on which the Court has already given a ruling; when a response to the question can be clearly deduced from precedents; or when there is "no reasonable doubt" over the response to the question. In such cases, the Court must first inform the national court or tribunal which referred the question of its intentions and hear any observations made by the parties involved. The case can then be closed by reasoned order, thus enabling the Court, when it appears justified, to give a ruling without hearing oral argument and without the presentation of a written Opinion from the Advocate-General.In the case of a question which is identical to one on which the Court has already given a ruling, two orders handed down last year illustrate the two different ways in which the Court can...