La nueva cuestión prejudicial en el espacio judicial europeo

Abstract

Last March 1st, 2008, it was enforced a new sort of preliminary ruling as it is the emergency preliminary ruling procedure; that is an especial and exclusive proceeding provided in order to interpret and appreciate the validity in the area of judicial cooperation in civil and criminal matters basically. Its objective is in fact to abbreviate and expedite the resolution of preliminary questions by the still European Court of Justice (ECJ) in a field so sensitive as it is, specifically, the criminal proceedings. The present contribution exposes certain remarks in relation with the reasons and essential features of the new procedure.