The European Parliament adopted a legislative resolution on the Council position at first reading with a view to the adoption of a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Protocol No 3 on the Statute of the Court of Justice of the European Union.
The European Parliament’s position adopted at second reading amended the Council position as follows:
Term of office of the additional Judges of the General Court: the partial renewal of the General Court should be organised so that the governments of Member States are able to appoint two judges during the partial renewal of the Tribunal in 2016, 2019 and 2022.
Reports:
By five years after the entry into force of this Regulation at the latest, the Court of Justice shall draw up a report, using an external consultant, for the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on the functioning of the General Court. This report shall focus on the efficiency of the General Court, the necessity and effectiveness of the increase to 56 judges, the use and effectiveness of resources and the further establishment of specialised chambers and/or other structural changes. Where appropriate, the Court of Justice shall make legislative proposals to amend its Statute accordingly;
By two years after the entry into force of this Regulation at the latest, the Court of Justice shall draw up a report on possible changes to the distribution of competence for preliminary rulings under Article 267 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. The report shall be accompanied, where appropriate, by legislative proposals.
Gender equality: a new recital stressed the importance of ensuring gender balance within the General Court. In order to achieve that objective, partial replacements in that Court should be organised in such a way that the Governments of Member States gradually begin to nominate two Judges for the same partial replacement with the aim therefore of choosing one woman and one man, provided that the conditions and procedures laid down by the Treaty are respected.
In a joint statement annexed to the resolution, the European Parliament and the Council declared that the governments of the Member States should, to the greatest possible extent, in the process of appointing candidates as Judges at the General Court, ensure an equal presence of women and men.