Decision-making of the Court of Justice of the European Union as an educational topic at the Supreme Administrative Court of the Slovak Republic
Judges of Supreme Administrative Court and employers of the Chancellery of the Court had on 5th of November 2025 possibility of attending two lectures with discussions. The judge of General Court JUDr. Beatrix Ricziová familiarized participants with the topic “Current case law of the General Court and certain procedural aspects”. Judicial assistant of Supreme Administrative Court, currently assigned as seconded national expert at the CJEU, Mgr. Daniel Staruch, addressed the topic “Research and Documentation Directorate of the Court of Justice of the European Union: Its role and products usable by national courts”.
Beatrix Ricziová, at the beginning, briefly introduced to participants basic outcomes of activities by the CJEU and its role connected with ensuring compliance with the law in the interpretation and application of treaties. She then outlined the fundamental pillars of the decision-making activity of the Court of Justice, also referred to as the “constitutional court” of the EU, and the General Court, also referred to as the “highest administrative court” of the EU, with specific emphasis on their competences within preliminary ruling proceedings. Considering her work at the General Court, in the next part of the lecture she focused on the case law developed by that court, paying particular attention to the first preliminary questions the General Court has dealt with since 2024. At the end, participants took the opportunity to discuss various topics concerning the case law of the General Court as well as the Court of Justice with judge Ricziová.
Daniel Strauch, in the afternoon session, presented structure of the Research and Documentation Directorate of the CJEU and specified its main tasks and products in the context of assisting the Court of Justice and the General Court in the exercise of their judicial functions. Regarding the products mentioned, he focused primarily on activities related to preliminary ruling questions, which include, above all, their in-depth analysis. Using concrete examples, he explained recommendations for formulating preliminary questions that may help ensure the CJEU deals with them.
Daniel Staruch during a lecture on research and documentation of the CJEU. Photo © Supreme Administrative Court of the Slovak Republic.
“It is desirable that the most qualified individuals from European institutions come to lecture us and speak about the intersections of European law and our decision-making processes. I am pleased by the discussion of our judges and staff on these topics. I perceive these professional meetings as somewhat of a celebration of European law on the premises of the Supreme Administrative Court “, assessed President of the Supreme Administrative Court Pavol Naď.