THE BANKING UNION AND UNION COURTS
Judicial scrutiny of banking supervisors and resolution authorities has become a defining feature of the European legal landscape since the financial crisis. With the establishment of the European Union’s ‘banking union’, the number of court proceedings against the European Central Bank (ECB), the Single Resolution Board (SRB) and others has grown significantly—marking a new era in the accountability of banking supervisors.
What began in 2014 with just a few isolated challenges has evolved into a rich and complex body of case law — one that touches upon deep issues of EU law and its overarching legal principles, the role of EU institutions, bodies and agencies, and the evolving balance of power between national and Union law.
This project, launched in 2017, began with a modest aim: to enhance transparency and facilitate understanding of how the ECB and SRB are held accountable in court. Since then, the case law list has expanded to cover hundreds of proceedings, offering a structured and up-to-date overview of litigation concerning the banking union.
The latest edition, updated to 30 April 2025, reflects the most recent judicial developments and is intended as a resource for legal researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. It includes not only a description of cases, but also summaries and analyses of the most consequential decisions, helping to contextualise their legal and institutional relevance.
An archive of previous editions is also available, allowing users to trace the evolution of this unique jurisprudence over time.
We invite you to explore the current edition and consult the archive — a comprehensive resource on how European courts are shaping the boundaries of EU banking supervision and resolution.
René Smits & Thomaz Braga de Arruda
European Banking Institute