**Policy Summary: Appointment of Judges to the General Court**
This decision, issued by the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States of the European Union on March 23, 2016, concerns the appointment of Judges to the General Court. The decision, officially titled "DECISION EU, Euratom 2016/485," addresses the expiration of the terms of office of 14 Judges on August 31, 2016, and the subsequent need for appointments for the period of September 1, 2016, to August 31, 2022. The legal basis for this decision is derived from Article 19 of the Treaty on European Union; Articles 254 and 255 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union; and Article 106a1 of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community. The decision renews the terms of office for Mr. Sten FRIMODT NIELSEN, Mr. Dimitrios GRATSIAS, Mr. Marc JAEGER, Mr. Viktor KREUSCHITZ, Mr. Savvas S. PAPASAVVAS, and Mr. Marc VAN DER WOUDE. Additionally, it appoints Ms. Krystyna KOWALIK-BACZYK and Mr. Paul NIHOUL as Judges of the General Court. The suitability of all eight individuals was reviewed by the panel established by Article 255 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. The decision, under Article 1, formally appoints these eight individuals as Judges of the General Court for the specified term. Article 2 states that the decision will enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. The decision was finalized in Brussels and signed by President P. DE GOOIJER.
Key Entities Referenced
European Union: A political and economic union of member states located primarily in Europe.
Euratom: European Atomic Energy Community
General Court: A court of the European Union, part of the Court of Justice of the European Union.
Treaty on European Union: One of the two primary treaties upon which the European Union (EU) is founded.
Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: One of the two primary treaties upon which the European Union (EU) is founded.
European Atomic Energy Community: An international organisation established by the Treaty of Rome in 1957 with the purpose of creating a specialist market for nuclear power in Europe.
Sten FRIMODT NIELSEN: A judge of the General Court of the European Union.
Brussels: The de facto capital city of the European Union, located in Belgium.
2.4.2016 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 87/33
DECISION (EU, Euratom) 2016/485 OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENTS OF
THE MEMBER STATES
of 23 March 2016
appointing Judges to the General Court
THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 19 thereof,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Articles 254 and 255 thereof,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, and in particular Article 106a(1)
thereof,
Whereas:
(1) The terms of office of 14 Judges of the General Court are due to expire on 31 August 2016. Appointments
should therefore be made for the period from 1 September 2016 to 31 August 2022.
(2) It has been proposed that the terms of office of Mr Sten FRIMODT NIELSEN, Mr Dimitrios GRATSIAS, Mr Marc
JAEGER, Mr Viktor KREUSCHITZ, Mr Savvas S. PAPASAVVAS and Mr Marc VAN DER WOUDE should be renewed.
(3) Furthermore, Ms Krystyna KOWALIK-BAŃCZYK and Mr Paul NIHOUL have been nominated for the posts of Judges
of the General Court.
(4) The panel set up by Article 255 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union has given an opinion
on the suitability of Mr Sten FRIMODT NIELSEN, Mr Dimitrios GRATSIAS, Mr Marc JAEGER, Ms Krystyna KOWALIK-
BAŃCZYK, Mr Viktor KREUSCHITZ, Mr Paul NIHOUL, Mr Savvas S. PAPASAVVAS and Mr Marc VAN DER WOUDE to
perform the duties of Judges of the General Court,
HAVE ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The following are hereby appointed Judges of the General Court for the period from 1 September 2016 to 31 August
2022:
— Mr Sten FRIMODT NIELSEN,
— Mr Dimitrios GRATSIAS,
— Mr Marc JAEGER,
— Ms Krystyna KOWALIK-BAŃCZYK,
— Mr Viktor KREUSCHITZ,
— Mr Paul NIHOUL,
— Mr Savvas S. PAPASAVVAS,
— Mr Marc VAN DER WOUDE.L 87/34 EN Official Journal of the European Union 2.4.2016
Article 2
This Decision shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European
Union.
Done at Brussels, 23 March 2016.
The President
P. DE GOOIJER