Courts of the European Union
The EU has its own courts, but most EU law is applied by national courts. When a national court is unsure about EU law, it asks the Court of Justice for a ruling.
Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
EU courts (Court of Justice of the European Union)
Court of JusticeFinal court on EU law; answers questions from national courts
General CourtHears actions by companies and individuals against EU institutions
National courts of the member states
Apply EU law in everyday cases and can ask the Court of Justice for a ruling (Article 267 TFEU)
Worth knowing
- The Court of Justice does not hear appeals against national court decisions. It answers questions of EU law, and the national court then decides the case.
- The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg belongs to the Council of Europe, not to the EU.
Compare European Union with another country →
Sources
Other systems
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TheLawToKnow Tools’s court-structure diagrams are simplified on purpose and are not legal advice. Report a mistake.
