In a new article published as a special editorial in ERA Forum, Koen Lenaerts, President of the Court of Justice of the European Union, examines the role of national courts and the Court of Justice in safeguarding European values and the rule of law.
The article, “In courts we trust: the guardians of European values”, is based on a major speech delivered by President Lenaerts on 5 June 2026 at the General Assembly of the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary (ENCJ) in Paris.
President Lenaerts traces the development of the Court of Justice’s case law on preserving the independence of national courts and their essential role in protecting rights under EU law. He also elaborates on the judicial dialogue between national courts and the Court of Justice.
Looking ahead, the article considers what President Lenaerts describes as a new generation of cases requiring the Court of Justice to “reinterpret established principles across diverse contexts”.
Courtesy of the ENCJ, ERA is pleased to reproduce the full speech as a special editorial in ERA Forum, available in open access.
Read “In courts we trust: the guardians of European values” by Koen Lenaerts
We invite you to read President Lenaerts’ speech and to visit ERA Forum regularly for the latest contributions on key developments in European law.
About ERA Forum
ERA Forum is the quarterly legal journal of the Academy of European Law (ERA). It provides a platform for analysis and discussion of current developments in European law, assembling contributions from practitioners, academics and members of the judiciary.
The article by President Lenaerts appears as a special editorial in ERA Forum. Issue 2/2026 will be available in print and online shortly.
