The ECJ and labour law: a 2008 retrospective

In relation to some of the 24 labour law cases decided by the European Court of Justice (ECJ), in 2008, ILJ readers already have the good fortune to have excellent free-standing analyses. This analysis is intended to complement analyses such as these, highlight the interest of other cases and provide a map of broader patterns in labour law decision making at the Court. I start by setting the Court's labour law record in 2008 within the context of the last five years. I identify important trends in the case law as well as changes in case management at the Court. The subsequent sections then examine in more detail the Court's labour law record in 2008. Four key themes in the case law are identified and explored. I conclude by considering some case-management issues and by considering the importance of the Court of Justice in EU labour law today.