The Community Judicial System at the Dawn of the Third Millenium: A Revolution or a Simple Face-Lift?

This article analyses the reform of the European Union (EU) judicial system, in the aftermath of the Treaty of Nice (2001). It introduces and assesses the institutional and procedural changes brought to the EU judicial system, which provide for greater organisational autonomy and flexibility of the EU courts, create a three-tiered EU judicial architecture and increase the flexibility, efficiency and transparency of the Courts' procedures. Such assessment is important, for institutional and procedural structures have a great influence on outcomes. It is through them that substantive issues are channelled.