This book has been carefully structured for ease of use.

How to find a case

The cases are listed alphabetically by name in the Table of Cases. Cases decided by the European Court are, in addition, listed by case number. Case numbers are assigned to each case at the beginning of the proceedings. They are normally in the form “Case 79/87”, in which the two digits after the oblique stroke (slash) indicate the year. Cases decided under certain special provisions – for example, Article 300(6) [228(6)] EC – are called “Opinions” and are separately numbered. We list all cases/opinions for the same year together. Within each year, they are listed according to the number before the oblique stroke, “Opinions” being listed before “Cases”. The Table of Cases gives the page number where the case is set out.

How to find a provision in a treaty, convention, statute or other instrument

All major legislative provisions discussed in the text are set out in panels, either on the page in question, on the facing page or on the next available page. These panels are numbered consecutively. The digits before the dot indicate the chapter. Thus Panel 12.2 is the second panel in Chapter 12. There is a Table of Panels, which lists all the panels in order and gives the page references. There is also a Table of Treaties and Other Instruments, which lists all provisions in treaties, etc. that are set out in this book. The list is alphabetical by instrument.