The European Law Moot Court was initiated by Prof. Waltraud Hakenberg, Former Registrar of the Civil Service Tribunal of the European Union, and is now conducted under the supervision of Dr. Jean-Christophe Puffer-Mariette and Dr. Sibylle Seyr.

The Moot Court is a hands-on experience that provides students with an insight into the dealings of the European Court of Justice. While working on a real pending case or a variation of such a case, the acquired theoretical knowledge from the lectures at the Europa-Institut is broadened and complemented with practical experience. 

In 2022, the Moot Court once again took place and the participants once again took on the roles of the parties to a preliminary ruling procedure before the CJEU; this time consisting of the President and Rapporteur of the Court of Justice, a law firm, party representatives and a representative of an additional EU Member State. 

The participants were confronted with a preliminary ruling procedure involving highly relevant questions of European data protection. To this end, they had to prepare written pleadings in advance as a team and familiarize themselves with the procedural law of the ECJ. The written phase was followed by the oral hearing on the premises of the ECJ. In addition to working in a team, the students were able to demonstrate both their argumentation skills and their oral negotiation skills. After the hearing, the debriefing took place over a cozy dinner in Luxembourg with the supervisors. 

The ECJ Moot Court is a great experience because it gives students the opportunity to apply the European law they have learned in practice. In addition, the oral hearing traditionally takes place in a courtroom of the ECJ, which is a unique opportunity to experience proceedings before the ECJ up close under (almost) real conditions. 

A big thank you therefore goes to Dr. Sibylle Seyr and Dr. Jean-Christophe Puffer-Mariette, who made this Moot Court possible.