This lecture discusses the question of whether national courts can affect the content and development of EU law through the so-called preliminary reference procedure, by which national courts can refer questions to the EU Court of Justice. National courts have a unique direct access to the most powerful court in Europe. Do they use that access to try to advance their own views on how European cooperation should be developed in the future? And does the EU Court of Justice listen?

Anna Wallerman Ghavanini is associate professor of EU Law. She conducts research into judicial decision-making, separation of powers and the role of courts and court proceedings in modern democratic society.