Brussels, 11/03/2008 (Agence Europe) - The average length of proceedings in the Court of Justice in 2007 fell to 19.3 months for preliminary rulings, compared with 23.5 months in 2004. The number of cases completed by the Court (551, compared with 503 in 2006) remains lower than the number of cases brought before it (580 in 2007). There were 741 cases pending on 31 December 2007. In the Court of First Instance, 522 cases were brought in 2007, a significant increase on the 432 cases brought in 2006. This, in combination with the reduced number of cases completed (from 436 to 397), led to an increase in the number of cases pending at the end of the year. In a press release published on 7 March, the Court highlights that an exceptional call on the resources of the Court of First Instance in 2007 had been made by the Microsoft/Commission case (T-201/04), but it acknowledged that the “ever increasing complexity and diversity” of actions brought before the Court of First Instance required a review of procedures. Thus, since 25 September, the Court has been made up of eight Chambers of three judges, or, where the importance of the case justifies it, five judges (extended composition), so as to derive greater advantage from the increase in the number of its Members. At the Civil Service Tribunal, 150 cases were completed and 157 brought. The average duration was 16.9 months for cases brought to a close by judgment and 10.9 months for those brought to a close by an order. Although there were 235 cases pending, this is because the Tribunal was unable to make up delays accumulated in 2006, when a large part of the year was devoted to developing its procedures, and also because a large number of pending cases have been stayed pending “test” cases of the Court of First Instance or decisions of the Court of Justice on appeal. (C.D.)