Brussels, 02/11/2004 (Agence Europe) - the EU Council of Ministers of Member States adopted without debate, on Tuesday, a decision on the setting up of a court for EU public services. This new jurisdictional body will handle disputes between European Union institutions and EU officials and agents. The decision, which relieves the Court of First Instance of part of its current legal activity, will improve the working of the Community jurisdictional system as a result. The EU court for the public service, which is an integral part of the EU Court of Justice, will be established in Luxembourg.
The European Union's public service court will act in first instance and its decisions may be the subject of limited appeal to the Court of First Instance. The new court will be composed of seven judges appointed by the EU Council of Ministers for a six-year tenure after consultation with an independent committee made up of personalities from the legal world. The judges will appoint the president of the Court for a three-year renewable mandate.