The Academy of European Law (ERA) Forum has published, in open access, the speech "In courts we trust: the guardians of European values" delivered by the President of the Court of Justice of the European Union, Koen Lenaerts, at the ENCJ General Assembly in Paris on 5 June 2026.

In his address, President Lenaerts reflects on the Court of Justice's evolving case law on judicial independence and on the central role of national courts in safeguarding the rule of law and fundamental rights across Europe. The President also underlines the importance of dialogue between national courts and the Court of Justice.

Reflecting on the evolution of the Court's jurisprudence, President Lenaerts notes: “It may be argued that the case-law of the Court of Justice on judicial independence is gradually entering a new phase, in which the Court is required to reinterpret established principles across diverse contexts”.

We are pleased that this important contribution presented at the ENCJ General Assembly is now available to a wider audience through the ERA Forum.

The full speech is available on the ERA Forum website.