Preliminary Ruling
In Simple Terms
A procedure where a national court asks the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) for guidance on how to interpret or apply EU law in a pending case.
Formal Legal Definition
A procedure under Article 267 TFEU whereby national courts may (or in some cases must) refer questions of EU law interpretation or validity to the Court of Justice of the European Union for a binding ruling.
Practical Example
A Finnish court hearing a data protection case may ask the CJEU whether a particular national practice is compatible with the GDPR. The CJEU's answer binds the national court.
Why It Matters
Preliminary rulings ensure uniform interpretation of EU law across all member states, preventing divergent applications of the same rules.
Common Misunderstandings
The CJEU does not decide the national case — it only answers the legal question. The national court then applies that answer to resolve the dispute.
Related Terms
How snowLEX helps with Preliminary Ruling
snowLEX provides access to all CJEU preliminary rulings, their summaries, and analysis of how they affect legal practice in different member states.
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