- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

New Judges Appointed to ECJ Amid Criticism Over 'Inefficient' Reforms

© Flickr / Michael CoghlanScales of Justice
Scales of Justice - Sputnik International
Subscribe
New judges are to be sworn into the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on Wednesday as part of new expansion reforms that critics say have resulted in "useless spending" and an undermining of the court's independence.

Nine new judges will be appointed to the ECJ — which consists of three different courts — marking the first stage of the reforms.

Court - Sputnik International
Inefficient, Ineffective and Costly: EU Judge Slams ECJ Reforms
Under the changes the number of judges in the ECJ's main court rise to 28, while a number of structural reforms will take place within the institution.

The changes will see a number judges' posts transferred from the Civil Service Tribunal to the ECJ General Court.

While the reforms were designed to address the backlog in cases at the Luxembourg-based court, the plans have been met with widespread criticism from some legal experts.

A recently released report written by EU General Court judge Franklin Dehousse said the expansion was "manifestly excessive," and "a great example of a purely mechanical vision of public service reform."

Dehousse argued the reforms would not address the backlog in cases, as designed, and said any benefits were "strongly overestimated."

The plans for ECJ reform triggered criticism of excessive EU spending after it was revealed the changes would cost US$26 million (€22.9m) a year, amounting to 6.6 percent of the court's overall budget.

"This is hardly an efficient — or an economical — strategy," Dehousse said.

The changes, which will see a judge from all 28 member states represented in the ECJ, have also raised concerns that many countries could act out of self-interest, which could ultimately weaken the court's independence.

"Equality of the member states in the appointment of judges has become the keystone of the system, the independent appointment process for the nomination of judges having been abolished," Dehousse said.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала