Broberg and Fenger on Preliminary References to the European Court of Justice

Abstract

This fully updated and revised 3^rd edition of Preliminary References to the European Court of Justice provides a meticulous and yet easily accessible examination of all aspects of the preliminary reference procedure. A reference for a preliminary ruling is a request from a national court of an EU Member State to the European Court of Justice to give an authoritative interpretation on an EU act or a decision on the validity of such an act. Preliminary rulings have played a pivotal role in the development of the European Union. The European Union’s preliminary reference procedure has been copied by several other international organisations – including not least the European Economic Area (EEA) and the EFTA Court. Since the second edition, the European Court of Justice has rendered a considerable number of rulings which have led to important changes to the book. This is particularly reflected in the treatment of the Court’s acte clair doctrine, of preliminary references from administrative appeal boards and arbitration tribunals and of preliminary references regarding international agreements. And it is reflected in the interaction between the preliminary reference procedure and the European Convention on Human Rights as well as in a more general revision of the text bringing it up to date by taking into account new case law and new legal writings. With backgrounds as both practitioners and academics the two authors have produced a book that caters for the needs of both practitioners and academics.