Referencing - UK & EU Law: EU case

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) is divided into two courts: the Court of Justice and the General Court (known as the Court of First Instance until 2009).

This guidance applies whether you found the judgment in print or online.

case number | case name | [year] | report abbreviation | first page

Footnote (if you HAVE given the case number and name in the text of your work):
e.g. [2002] ECR II-2905

Footnote (if you HAVE NOT given the case number and name in the text of your work):
e.g. Case T-340/99 Arne Mathisen AS v Council [2002] ECR II-2905

Bibliography:
e.g. Arne Mathisen AS v Council (T-340/99) [2002] ECR II-2905

To pinpoint a paragraph, follow the citation with a comma then ‘para’ and the paragraph number. To pinpoint several paragraphs, follow the citation with a comma then ‘paras’ and insert a dash between the paragraph numbers:
e.g. Case T-340/99 Arne Mathisen AS v Council [2002] ECR II-2905, para 19

The case number includes a prefix, which indicates the court:

• C = Court of Justice (not needed for pre-1989 cases)
• T = General Court

Follow the prefix with a dash - and the case number.

• Always give party names in italics
• Separate adverse parties with an italic v
• Don't include and another
• If multiple parties, name only the first claimant and the first defendant
• If an individual, don't include forenames or initials
• Use Re, not In re or In the matter of
• Use Ex p, not Ex parte
• Include terms indicating corporate status (Ltd, plc)
• Abbreviate common words and phrases (see Oscola appendix 4.2.4).

The year is always given in [square brackets].

If possible, use the official European Court Reports (ECR):

• Court of Justice cases = volume one (ECR I-)
• General Court cases = volume two (ECR II-).

The volume number is given in roman numerals and is connected to the page number with a dash -.

If an ECR reference is not available, use the Common Market Law Reports or the All England Law Reports (European Cases).