Judges and prosecutors are the main guarantors of the proper application of EU law at national level. They need to be familiar with and apply the relevant parts of the EU acquis in the area of justice. Judges apply EU law ex officio, put into practice the principles of primacy and direct effect, and refer preliminary questions to the CJEU.
The initial training, training for future or newly appointed judges, should provide:
- grounding in the EU legal system and legal culture, helping build a practical understanding of the role of EU law in national legal systems
- the rule of law acquis
- information on their role as European justice practitioners.