Black Letter Law – EU Law
Book 4: Judicial Enforcement & Article 267 TFEU
 
This exam-focused short read explains how EU law is enforced through national courts and how the preliminary reference procedure under Article 267 TFEU ensures uniform interpretation across the European Union.
 
Written for UK LLB, GDL, and SQE students, this book clarifies the decentralised system of EU judicial enforcement, showing why national courts are the primary enforcers of EU law and how their relationship with the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) safeguards the effectiveness (effet utile) of EU rights.
 
The book provides a clear and structured explanation of Article 267 TFEU, including who may refer, the difference between interpretation and validity references, and when a reference is mandatory or discretionary. Key doctrines such as acte clair, acte éclairé, and the functional definition of a “court or tribunal” are explained using leading authorities including CILFIT, Foto-Frost, and Dorsch Consult.
 
Judicial remedies are analysed in a practical, exam-ready manner, covering disapplication of national law, interim relief, consistent interpretation, and state liability for judicial breaches (Köbler). Throughout, complex doctrine is distilled into black-letter rules, flowcharts, decision trees, and summary tables to support clear and confident exam answers.
 
Ideal for revision, consolidation, and last-minute exam preparation, this volume is an essential guide to EU law enforcement and judicial procedure.
 
Clear. Structured. Exam-ready.
 
This Short Note forms part of the Black Letter Law Series—European Union Law, which comprises the following:
1. Sources of EU Law & the Hierarchy of Norms
2. EU Legislative Competence & Law-Making Powers
3. Supremacy, Direct Effect & State Liability
4. Judicial Enforcement & ARTICLE 267 TFEU
5. General Principles & Fundamental Rights

The Black Letter Law Series also covers other aspects of law, including Contract Law.