According to the President, the Court of Justice continues to be a strong guarantor of respect for the rule of law in the face of growing populist groups across Europe. It helps to maintain a balance between freedom, security and values of personal privacy, as well as to protect justice and the fundamental principles of the European Union when dealing with critical pan-European issues, including terrorism, migration and Brexit.
The Luxembourg-based Court of Justice is tasked with interpreting EU law and ensuring its equal application across all EU member states and its institutions. A great number of key EU principles were initially formulated by the Court; therefore, it has always been referred to as the engine of integration.
Lithuanian courts cooperate closely with the European Court of Justice as they raise issues of the application of EU law relevant for the entire European Union. According to the President, it helps to ensure the independence of Lithuanian courts and their high standards of performance. In the thirteen years of its EU membership, Lithuania has lost only three cases in the Court of Justice. At the present moment, there is not a single action brought against Lithuania for the violation of EU law or failure to implement commitments. In this respect, our country holds one of the highest rankings in the European Union. Making Lithuanian courts of law more transparent and improving their performance has always been a top priority on the President’s agenda.
With approaching negotiations over Brexit, the meeting also focused on the Court’s engagement in determining the future relations between the European Union and the United Kingdom. In case of legal dispute, the UK or any EU member state will have the right to refer it to the Court of Justice. According to the President, the Court will hold the responsibility for ensuring that all agreements between the European Union and the United Kingdom are consistent with the core principles of the EU treaties and that the people of Europe are protected against discrimination.
